PAULA COX:

Medical tourism could offer a boost to the Island's economy, according to Ms Cox.

Patients from North America would fly to Bermuda — for treatment or recovery — in the same way they currently travel to Europe to avoid long waiting lists or high costs, she says.

The Deputy Premier says she would discuss the merits of the concept with the Island's medical community before going ahead with it, and says the idea is not to pave the way for a stem cell clinic as proposed by Premier Ewart Brown three years ago.

"If you are prepared to travel to Europe, Bermuda can be an option," she said.

Ms Cox acknowledges tourism is not doing "as well as we would like", but says Government has to keep doing what it's already doing to try to raise arrival figures.

She points to a recent move to lease public land for development at 9 Beaches which passed through the House of Assembly last month.

The team behind the 9 Beaches project will pay Government $15 million for a 262-year lease of the land, meaning it can press ahead with an $80 million development.

Ms Cox says Government must press on with similar legislative efforts, as well as creating infrastructure to allow mega ships and putting more Bermudians in the picture from a cultural and entertainment point of view.