Hotel chiefs yesterday joined with Tourism Minister David Dodwell to torpedo the Opposition's line on Government's latest amendments to its cruise ship policy.

Bermuda Hotel Association boss John Harvey warned Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen's insistence on a weekend cruise ship would "hurt Bermuda's hotels.'' And Tourism Minister David Dodwell accused Mr. Allen of "failing to understand'' the cruise industry, its passengers, marketing or its impact on Bermuda.

Mr. Allen launched his attack after Government again turned its face against a weekend caller to Bermuda, although it announced Princess Cruises would be permitted to schedule regular services to the Island on a three-port basis.

Mr. Allen said earlier this week that Carnival Cruise Lines wanted to bring a weekend ship to the Island.

And he said multiple port schemes hit small entrepreneurs, taxi drivers, shops and restaurants -- singling out Dockyard as a prime example.

But Mr. Harvey said: "Bermuda hotels currently, in the main, enjoy high occupancies during the weekend and for Mr. Allen to favour Carnival Cruise Line to take away hotel business at that time shows a blatant disregard for our current challenge to sustain our business and provide employment for the Bermudian hotel employee.'' And he added: "It is our view that Bermuda hotels already suffer because of the already high number of cruise ships servicing Bermuda.'' Mr. Harvey said the Association approved the new Tourism five-year plan, unveiled by Mr. Dodwell last week.

He added: "The BHA is pleased that there is a recognition for the need to attract quality customers as outlined in the new five-year plan, which Carnival has difficulty providing.'' Mr. Dodwell said: "Mr. Allen's comments, as usual, never focus on the customer, competitiveness, the product and partnerships -- all critical to the effective management of tourism.'' He added that cruise ships chiefs had rammed home the point that multiple ports were "a strong marketing tool.'' Mr. Dodwell said: "Further, there is no evidence whatsoever that the retailers, excursion providers and taxi operators have been negatively impacted by the multiple-port experience for cruise ship visitors.'' He cited the Archer report on tourism, which recorded increased expenditure by cruise ship passengers in 1997 -- two percent up to $41 million -- with no decrease in spending in shops or restaurants.

Mr. Dodwell added: "Cruise ship passengers also spent more on taxis and other transportation than the previous year.'' And he said surveys by cruise lines had shown that selling a mid-week departure -- needed for a weekend trip -- would not be popular and operators feared major discounts would be needed to attract sufficient business.

Mr. Dodwell insisted: "Bermuda's weekend ship policy is very clear. It makes provision for a weekend call in conjunction with a hotel stay, a feature which works in other jurisdictions.

"This was included in the policy in order that cruises do not compete unfairly with the hotels where the bulk of the business is on the weekend.'' And he denied claims by Mr. Allen that he had "misled'' the public by saying no cruise line wanted a weekend deal.

Mr. Dodwell said that Carnival -- the biggest line in the world, but with a downmarket image it is trying to shake -- had been seen as a prospective partner for cruises starting in 2000.

But he explained: "The consensus of the Tourism Board, however, was that the marketing strategy of Princess Cruises was more compatible with the new strategic positioning of the Island.'' Mr. Dodwell also said he was "particularly concerned'' by Mr. Allen's insistence that Government should have held off on signing long-term contracts because of the upcoming General Election.

He said: "All cruise companies ideally require at least two full seasons for the deployment and marketing of their fleet.

"Given Mr. Allen's professional experience in the tourism and travel industry, one has to be absolutely shocked at his misreading of the timing of these negotiations.'' TOURISM TOU