Tourism chiefs have delayed an announcement on which performers will appear at this year's Bermuda Music Festival.

The Bermuda Tourism website stated until yesterday that "this year's featured musical artists and ticket information" would be revealed on July 8.

But the date was changed to July 21 yesterday afternoon after The Royal Gazette contacted the Department of Tourism to find out who was playing.

A Government spokeswoman said the July 8 date was incorrect and that she did not know why the announcement was being delayed. She was unable to give further details.

Last year's festival cost taxpayers $3 million and attracted big name performers, including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and UB40.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown said spending on the event represented "excellent value for the exposure". But critics claimed it failed to attract enough overseas visitors to the Island.

Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley said last night he hoped details on the October 29 to 31 festival would soon be forthcoming in order that this year's event could be properly promoted.

The Opposition Senate Leader said: "Time is really marching on. It's the type of thing we need to market to be successful. I think, and the UBP thinks, it has not been marketed properly in the past.

"We have left it too late in the past and not got the 'heads and beds', as the Premier likes to say. Hopefully we have learnt from our mistakes and we don't allow it to happen again this year in light of the difficult economic situation."

He said the Premier liked to "herald" the festival but not enough effort had been put into promoting it previously, despite the "class acts" involved.

"We have to make sure that not only is the event successful but it does what the advertising dollars are chasing it to do," he said.

The UBP politician described spending on last year's festival as "way over the top". The Department of Tourism has said this year's event will be scaled back as resources are redirected toward a battle plan to drive visitors to Bermuda throughout the year.

Sen. Dunkley said: "I would hope that at the press conference [when the acts are announced], the Premier or tourism officials would say how they are planning to get value for dollars this year."