Bermuda's embattled tourism industry is closing the year under the darkest of clouds and the Island's major hotels and its workers appear to bearing the brunt of the storm.

In a spot check of the major hotels The Royal Gazette has learned that in the traditionally slow week before Christmas, occupancy rates appear to have hit rock bottom, while up to 80 percent of hotel staff have been laid off or are working substantially reduced hours.

As of yesterday a paltry 24 guests were registered at the 600-room Southampton Princess Hotel, staff reported. And the picture was no brighter at the 403-room Sonesta, where 25 people were registered. The Elbow Beach Hotel, with a 1,060-bed capacity, meanwhile reported 40 guests currently on site.

Grotto Bay's Beach Club general manager J.P. Martens told The Royal Gazette December is traditionally a slow time for the industry, but this year has been slower than most. He refused to say how many guests were presently registered at his 201-room facility and denied reports to The Royal Gazette that only six guests were booked in.

Staff at Marriott's Castle Harbour Hotel, while refusing to disclose occupancy figures, also reported it was quieter than normal.

The figures appear to be in line with the Bermuda Hotel Association's dismal 17.9 percent occupancy rate projection for the month of December, down from last December's 21.7 percent.

Meanwhile, 80 percent of 3,000 unionised hotel workers have either been laid off or had their hours radically reduced, said Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess.

"I've appealed to Government for some sort of fall back or income assistance for these families, but so far we've heard nothing,'' said Mr. Burgess, who added the slowdown, though expected, continues to hit workers the hardest.

The Coalition for Change's John Casling said the "incredible'' occupancy figures are a clear indication Government has no plan or direction for rejuvenating the tourism industry, and he said recent pledges by the Premier to turn the industry around in three years mean "nothing, absolutely zero.'' And he predicted that if trends continued at least three tourist properties could close in the coming new year: "They're (the hotels) not even generating enough money to keep the lawn cut so how, at the end of the day, are we going to keep the thousands of Bermudians in this industry working? "Some of these workers can't even afford to buy a loaf of bread,'' he added.

Meanwhile, as the new year dawns Government has yet to release tourism projections or objectives. "What are they planning, what are their options,'' said Mr. Casling.

"All we hear is no to more cruise ships; no to gambling. When are they going to tell us what they're going to do,'' he said.