cruise ship visitors next year to 170,000, Government Senate leader the Hon.

Charles Collis said yesterday.

And he applauded the Department of Tourism for its efforts in trying to power Bermuda out of the "crisis'' of recession.

Sen. Collis said 1993 sea arrivals should improve on the 128,000 last year -- itself 16 percent up on 1990.

The Island would also enjoy 13 flights a day in the spring thanks to a range of air companies.

The moves were against a background of a worldwide crisis in tourism, claimed Sen. Collis.

But Opposition Sen. Trevor Woolridge warned of the fragility of the additional spring flights.

Three of the companies involved had financial difficulties -- Continental, USAir, and Northwest.

Sen. Woolridge said Government needed to prepare contingency plans.

The comments were made yesterday during the tourism budget debate in the Senate.

Sen. Collis opened by describing the devastating impact worldwide of the recession on tourism.

"It is probably not too extreme to say worldwide it's an industry in crisis,'' he said.

He added: "We have seen many reductions in tourists travelling in all parts of the world. There are very few places that can claim any major increase.'' Sen Collis said threats of industrial action only helped to put off tourists.

He went on to say, however, some positive signs were emerging.

A new cooperative advertising programme in America which promoted many Bermudian hotels and guest houses had made an encouraging start.

But until such optimism was translated into more tourists it would be foolish to count any chickens, said Sen. Collis.

Tourism was essential to the health of the Island, employing over 5,000 people directly, and many thousands indirectly, although its economic contribution had dipped.

"At the present time the contribution to the gross domestic product of tourism is probably down to 50 percent.'' Sen. Collis said the Tourism Department continued to focus on up-scale visitors, less on cruise ship tourists.

Moves were also under way to boost the number of College Weeks students through travel agents.

On air passengers, Sen. Collis praised the efforts over the last two years to overcome problems caused by the collapse of Eastern Airlines and Pan Am.

"This created an enormous hole,'' he said.

But through a range of companies, including Delta, Continental, USAir, Northwest, American Airlines, and United, there would be 13 flights a day to the Island in the spring.

Sen. Collis admitted disappointment over the frequency of flights out of Britain.

"There were four flights last summer, and two this summer.'' But efforts were continually made to promote flights from Britain and Europe.

Regarding cruise ships, Sen. Collis predicted no increase in arriving passengers.

Last year there were 128,000 out of a potential maximum of 143,000.

But 1993 would see the cruise liners Nordic Prince and Westward replaced with ships with more berths.

This could pump up the potential number of sea visitors by between 150,000 and 170,000, said Sen. Collis.

In addition Government was considering another ship for 1994.

The potential growth in visitors could be at a fairly material rate, said Sen.

Collis.

"It will challenge the infrastructure of Bermuda to accommodate it,'' he added.

Sen. Collis went on to underline a tourism survey for 1991 which showed 73 percent were from the managerial class of society, and over 42 percent had been to Bermuda before.

Although the survey was mainly positive, there was criticism of high prices.

"It is imperative we contain costs,'' he said.

Sen. Collis concluded by saying: "The Department of Tourism has been doing an outstanding job in promoting Bermuda for our tourists, notwithstanding the fact tourism has been down.'' He added the department had won a number of awards for its efforts.

Sen. Woolridge also applauded the department's civil servants in his opening remarks.

But he believed the current budget did not adequately support the industry.

It was true Bermuda would be serviced by 13 flights, but Government should monitor the financial position of Continental, USAir, and Northwest.

Contingency plans should be set up now -- it was no use scrambling at the last moment if the worse came to the worse.

Sen. Woolridge also said cruise ship policies had not catered for St.

George's.

On the marketing front, he said black Americans could be targetted in a profitable way.

"There is no attempt by the Ministry of Tourism to directly market black Americans,'' he claimed.

He also criticised Sen. Collis for allegedly writing off "hamburger and hot dog'' people, in favour of more up-market tourists.

The Island should target all kinds of visitors, particularly during a recession.

Sen. Woolridge went on to call for local entertainers to be given more encouragement to display their talent.

"We send mixed signals to our young people,'' he said.

He said boosting local entertainment would delight visitors, and also enhance race relations on the Island.

It would no longer be just in the workplace and occasional social functions that black and white got together.

"Poor race relations in large part is caused by ignorance,'' he said.

Sen. Woolridge also suggested it was worth tapping potential VIP visitors from the United Nations in New York.

Bermuda had proved its ability to host US presidents and UK prime ministers.

Sen. Woolridge said some air visitors could be put off by the higher cost of last-minute flight reservations.

Government Sen. Cindy Trimm said there was a need to encourage students to enter the hospitality industry.

Independent Sen. Joe Johnson warned about increasing Bermuda's reliance on international business.

The current 50-50 balance between international business and tourism was probably healthy.