Plans for an Island-wide renaissance driven by new world-class cultural events and tourism developments in the West End were backed last night by Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell.

A group of businessmen, designers, and arts entrepreneurs have teamed up with the West End Development Corporation (Wedco) to form the West End Consortium.

The group, including image consultants and arts promoters from New York, this week unveiled its vision of creating a buzz about the Island through cultural events at Dockyard, allied with the new Lantana hotel, sports and spa complex, and the proposed transformation of the former Morgan's Point naval base into a leisure, golf, yachting and housing complex known as King's Point.

The Consortium said Bermuda could regain its place as the "crown jewel" of tourism if it became a "total island resort" aimed at a new generation of holiday-makers which values authentic cultural experiences.

Key players in the Consortium are the company poised to buy the closed Lantana resort, Burkett and Associates, Bermuda-based developers BEAM, who have plans for Morgan's Point, Wedco, and a number of New York arts entrepreneurs.

Mr. Dodwell said he was impressed by the team grouped together, and by its commitment to bring Bermudians fully into the concept.

And he said the "total island resort" idea, requiring everyone in Bermuda to play their part in tourism, picked up the theme the United Bermuda Party developed in its 1997 manifesto for reviving tourism.

"I was impressed by it. There were a broad number of qualified and experienced people there from a design, consulting and cultural background," said Mr. Dodwell.

"It is product-based, which is what I have been emphasising, and we must give the new consumer what they are looking for in activities and entertainment.

"I like the way they have linked these properties together - Dockyard, Lantana, and hopefully Kings Point.

"They used the words 'total island resort' which were the exact words we used in the UBP strategy plan for tourism in 1997. It is about the entire island being opened up to tourism, not just entertainment here or a gold course there.

"They seem to be very visionary. It will be interesting. We'll wait and see but we hope they get moving."