Dormant hotel projects will be brought back to life through a sharply focused National Tourism Plan, panel member Vince Ingham told a town-hall meeting.Mr Ingham, who is part of the team drafting the plan, stressed the Tourism Board’s determination to help seven hotel proposals become a reality to kick-start tourism.Speaking at the meeting at Hamilton’s Heritage Worship Centre Wednesday, designed to encourage public consultation on the issue, he told the audience: “We have spent some time looking into the future.“We have some seven properties on the Island right now that are zoned for tourism development.“Our view is that we have to get those properties back into play.“We must look very proactively at doing that. At the same time, we need to focus on existing properties to ensure we don’t lose ground as we try to break new ground.“This should be done very simply by being absolutely committed and clear about what those properties can do for Bermuda.“We believe if we can get two or three properties moving in Bermuda, we will start to generate an interest in this Island.“We will generate new job opportunities both in construction when we build the hotels and then to work in hotels after they are built.”About 60 people attended the meeting and discussed a range of ideas to improve tourism, with panel member Maxwell Burgess, the former United Bermuda Party Minister and now a Progressive Labour Party member, saying the group is not going to back away from any suggestion.Several audience members suggested trying to recruit visitors from new markets such as Brazil or Europe.Panel member Malcolm Butterfield said one way to do that could be if Bermuda sets up its own airline so it could select its own destinations.One man said Bermuda needs to spread its cruise ships around so the whole Island can benefit, but Mr Burgess said the long-term goal is to reduce cruise ship passengers in favour of more hotel visitors.“Land tourists spend more money in Bermuda and hotels create more jobs,” he said.One man warned Bermuda would face increasing competition from Cuba’s more open tourism strategy moving forward.He urged Tourism to more aggressively target young people by advertising events such as the White Parties and Pink Parties organised by Belcario Thomas.