A new Government cruise policy could be revealed to the public within a matter of weeks.

The Departments of Tourism and Transport have been working on the document, along with other interested parties, and the final draft of it is nearing completion.

Wh en released, it will be the first official Progressive Labour Party policy on cruise ships, which have become a controversial issue with rising passenger numbers pitched against declining air arrivals.

Tourism Director Richard Calderon said the departments were currently working with the previous cruise ship policy, created under the UBP.

"The new one has been driven by the Department of Tourism working with the Department of Transport, an advisory board and has taken advice from various groups,'' he said.

"We have been working diligently to bring in every critical person so that we can get shared information and put it all together within the next couple of weeks.'' Cruise policy Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell challenged Government to publicly announce whether or not statements made in Tourism's Integrated North American Marketing Plan, were part of an official policy.

The plan stated a target for cruise numbers as part of its short term goals.

For the 2000 season, it stated "retain the ratio of air to cruise visitors of two thirds to one third, respectively''.

"My challenge is, is that Government policy?'' he said. "I think they wanted to slip that by the public and see what happened, rather than come out with a new policy that says `this is what we are going to make it'.'' He spoke as cruise arrivals this week tipped the 6,000-a-day mark -- a limit adopted by the UBP.

On the peak cruise days of Wednesday and Thursday, just more than 6,400 passengers were on the Island -- with the season in its first few weeks.

The number also surpassed the 6,000 target set by the Bermuda Tourism Private Sector Long Term Strategy as a goal for 2003.

Some of those passengers will be involved in the cruise and stay programme.