Shadow Tourism Minister Cole Simons yesterday called for Government to plough emergency cash into promoting the Island ahead of a predicted grim winter.

Mr Simons said industry sources believe the next few months will be the worst in living memory and Bermuda badly needs to do more to attract visitors from the north east of America.

And he said with little cash left in existing budgets, Minister Patrice Minors should push for a marketing programme in partnership with hotels.

“Bermuda needs emergency spending in core markets of the US northeast to help local hotels survive the coming winter,” said the United Bermuda Party MP in a statement.

“Not only are jobs at stake, but the situation threatens to worsen hotels' deeply precarious financial positions.

“It is our understanding that the Government has very few dollars left in existing budgets to promote the Island over the coming winter period. We therefore call on the Tourism Minister to secure additional funding for promotions to boost visitor arrivals in the first months of the New Year.

“In addition, we call on her to produce a plan for promotions focused on our most reliable markets in the US northeast to fish where the fish are. In keeping with our inclusive approach to tourism, we would hope such a plan is drawn up in conjunction with hoteliers, who bring to the table the best knowledge of where dollars can be spent most effectively.”

Mr Simons congratulated the Minister on her initial talks with hoteliers and suggested she “consider expanding arrangements whereby the marketing is funded by hotels with a matching commitment from the Government”.

He continued: “This is a matter of survival. We believe the winter months are shaping up to be the most severe test of tourism's viability as an island industry. Our hope is to do whatever is possible to keep hotels operational until the spring and summer when business picks up through the seasonal rise in activity and, hopefully, general recovery from recession.

“To this end, the United Bermuda Party will support, in principle, a supplementary spending plan to boost hotel arrivals from traditional markets that have served the island well in the past.

“In addition, we urge the Government to match any additional tourism spending with a budget reduction elsewhere in order for it to have a neutral effect on the overall budget. We leave it to her and the Premier to determine where the cutbacks can be made.”