A 60-year-old American tourist was stabbed and his wife hit in the head during an armed robbery at the Grotto Bay resort yesterday.

A second robbery at The Wharf executive suites also put a 28-year-old Australian visitor in hospital.

The news sparked condolences from the Premier, and fears from the Opposition that others may be put off coming to Bermuda.

However, Grotto Bay manager JP Martens said the injured couple are recovering well, and have vowed to return.

According to a Police spokesman, officers were alerted to the incident at Grotto Bay, in Hamilton Parish, at 5.10 a.m.

"It appears that an unknown man brandishing a bladed article and a blunt object gained entry into a guest room at the premises," he explained.

"The intruder demanded money from the occupants and made good his escape with a quantity of cash.

"The victims, a 60-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman who are husband and wife, were injured and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment."

The husband remained in hospital last night, but his wife had been discharged.

Mr. Martens visited the hospital and had dinner with the couple, who are from New Jersey and on their third vacation in Bermuda. "I dropped off his favourite meal of shrimp cocktail, filet mignon and cheesecake. He's a repeat guest who's doing very well and is impressed by the warmth of the people of Bermuda," he reported.

Mr. Martens declined to go into details about how the robbery occurred, since it is the subject of an active Police investigation. However, he confirmed the man was stabbed and his wife hit in the head.

"He's in absolutely fantastic spirits. He looks great," said Mr. Martens yesterday evening. "They're definitely returning to Grotto Bay next year. They're really good people and we're sorry this happened."

The news prompted Premier and Minister of Tourism Ewart Brown to say: "This is most unfortunate. We have word that the victim has had successful surgery and is in stable condition. Our Bermuda Department of Tourism staff have been in touch with his wife and have extended the best wishes of the Government and the people of Bermuda.

"These were terrible and unfortunate incidents. And I join with residents in condemning such cowardly acts. I'm confident that the Bermuda Police Service is devoting all the necessary resources to apprehend those responsible."

Minutes before the alarm was raised at Grotto Bay, Police were alerted to the robbery at The Wharf suites in Paget. The Police spokesman said: "It appears that around 4 a.m. an unknown man gained entry into a guest room at the premises.

"The intruder demanded money from the occupant and made good his escape with a quantity of cash. The victim, a 28-year-old Australian man, was injured and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment."

According to a hospital spokeswoman, he had been released by yesterday evening. The Police spokesman declined to specify what type of injury the man received.

Meanwhile the duty manager at The Wharf declined to discuss the matter, and general manager Carol Woods could not be reached for comment.

The culprit is described as a dark-skinned man of slim build, approximately 5'8" tall. Meanwhile, the culprit in the Grotto Bay attack is described as a six-foot tall man wearing a black hat.

Asked if the two robberies were connected, the Police spokesman replied: "At this point the Police have not ruled out anything, including the possibility they may be linked."

Reacting to the news last night, Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley said: "My colleagues and I continue to be most disturbed and concerned with the alarming trends of crime experienced by the Island over the past few years."

He said the United Bermuda Party wanted to bring in aggressive measures at the last election to deal with public safety, plus rehabilitation and social problems.

"Sadly, the downward spiral has continued to the point that firearms incidents are common and threaten the future well being of the Island as a safe place to live, conduct business or visit. The events of this past weekend where three visitors were robbed and injured in their hotel rooms further amplifies the dire state that we face," he added.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured visitors we hope they recover quickly and the thugs are held to account."

• Anyone with information about the robbery at The Wharf should contact Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011, and information about the Grotto Bay incident should be directed to the St. George's Criminal Investigation Unit on 293-2222.