Legislation to create and empower the new tourism board has been tabled in the House of Assembly.Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert said members of the recently established board recommended that it receive statutory powers, and the Tourism Board Act 2012 would do just that.“The purpose and objective of the Bill is to give the board statutory powers to develop and promote Bermuda as a tourism destination,” Mr Furbert said.“The board achieves this objective under the Bill by giving expert advice to the Government on matters relating to travel and tourism, by formulating strategies and programmes and effectively managing outcomes necessary to enhance the travel and tourism sector contribution to the Bermuda economy.”Under the legislation, the tourism board would be able to grant loans for tourism enterprises, receive fees or payments and enter into contracts.The Minister further explained that the board will be funded by a tourism guest fee, which, according to the legislation will be set at 2.5 percent of the rack rate fee hotels charge guests.The legislation would allow the 16-person board to be led by a chairman appointed by the Tourism Minister. It would also have eight members appointed by the Minister.Five people would also be appointed by the Bermuda Hotel Association, the executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce and the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union.The Tourism director, the director of Global Operations (Tourism), the LF Wade International Airport general manager and the Bermuda Hotel Association CEO all stand as ex-officio members.