Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen accused Norwegian Cruise Line staff of telling their passengers to shop in Hamilton, not St. George's.

Mr. Allen claimed that East End merchants were going to have their hopes of a successful tourism season shattered because NCL crew were telling passengers to shop in Hamilton.

The allegation came during last night's Motion to Adjourn in the House of Assembly on Friday night.

NCL have taken over operation of the former Royal Majesty and renamed it Norwegian Majesty . The vessel operates between Boston and Bermuda and spends its on-Island time at Ordinance Island.

The company also operates the Norwegian Crown which berths in St. George's before switching to Hamilton mid-week.

Mr. Allen said he had heard the line was telling its passengers where to shop because it had a deal arranged with Hamilton shopkeepers.

This was not the idea behind having a dedicated ship for St. George's, he noted. The ship was supposed to boost business in the East End.

He called on Tourism Minister David Dodwell to tell NCL to cease and desist from its alleged policy because East End merchants were being stabbed in the back. Continuing on the theme of tourism, Mr. Allen also pointed to disappointing arrival figures for March and the year-to-date.

The recently released figures showed a 12.25 percent drop in arrivals for this March in comparison to March, 1997 while figures were down six percent for the year.

This indicated that the UBP had failed in its efforts to turn tourism around, he said.

He expressed concern for the hotel workers who were in danger of losing their jobs at the peak of last season. There was the chance of this happening again, he warned.

Opposition Whip Walter Lister picked up the subject and noted the hardship West End merchants were in danger of facing.

Those retailers had set up their operations in the belief that there would be a cruise ship in Dockyard for four to five days a week.

But this year there would only be a ship in port for one or two days, he pointed out.

This was neither forward thinking nor good management, he said. Mr. Lister called on Government to treat people in the West End with more respect.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell began by defending the Island's hotels.

He made his remarks following the news that an American visitor had successfully sued her travel agent on an American television show after a disappointing holiday in Bermuda.

But the minister insisted that hotels were regularly checked by his ministry and could only get a licence to operate after passing the inspection.

He also said he would be examining claims by some St. George's businessmen that cruise operators were advising their passengers not to spend their money in the town but instead go to Hamilton.

And he also announced that visitor statistics show that 1998 could be a good year for tourism.

Denouncing Shadow Minister David Allen's earlier remarks that the industry was in "free fall'' he said: "Words like free fall and disaster are inappropriate.

"The first three months are traditionally the quiet part of the year but when you have a low base to work from one good month can turn things around and the shortfall has been cut to 3.4 percent.

"Figures for four out of the next five months are also looking good.''