Axed Tourism Board member calls for non-political body

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15: Former Bermuda Tourism Board member Tony Brannon yesterday called for a non-political tourism authority to run the industry.

Mr Brannon was speaking shortly after he was sacked after only six months on the Board.

He was told his services were no longer required after he fired off an e-mail to Tourism Minister Patrice Minors and Premier Paula Cox complaining about the board’s lack of action to stem the decline in visitors.

Bureaucracy

“I said we were six months into the new board and nothing had been done — that’s not the way the business world works,” he told the Bermuda Sun.

“The result is I was fired — it’s obvious I’m over-qualified and too much of a progressive thinker to entertain.

“I’d like to think that other people on the board, if they have any backbone, will stand up and protest or resign.

“If they think everything is fine, they can stay on the deck of the Titanic and shuffle the deckchairs around.”

Mr Brannon — who has a degree in Hotel Administration and who has worked in the entertainment industry for 35 years — said the board had yet to write the first line of a plan to breathe new life into the island’s tourism industry.

He added: “We lose momentum and we lose opportunity because it takes so long to discuss things due to bureaucracy and red tape.

“It’s very frustrating, but Government doesn’t get it.

“We need to jumpstart Bermuda but they don’t want to do anything different.

“The urgency to generate a plan, while it’s talked about, is gone.

“What we really need is a tourism authority which takes the politics out of the management of tourism — but it’s business as usual over there.

“The Premier said it wouldn’t be business as usual, but it is. Tourism isn’t working — they don’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth.”

A letter from Ms Minors to Mr Brannon, dated yesterday and copied to board chairman Malcolm Butterfield, said: “Your passion for the Bermuda tourism product has not gone unnoticed, however, after much reflection, it has been determined that your participation as a Tourism Board member has not been as constructive as I had envisaged.”

The letter added: “I thank you for your contributions over the past several months and I wish you much success in your future endeavours.”

Mr Brannon’s e-mail added that Ms Minors did not support gambling — although industry figures have argued it is necessary to attract both visitors and further investment in new and existing hotels.

He also said cruise ships — who want guests to spend on board — had little incentive to promote the events and attractions onshore.

Confusion

He added that since an alleged attack on cruise ship crew members at Dockyard, “at least one cruise line” had imposed a 1:30am curfew for all staff.

He said: “There are a lot of good things going on in the Department of Tourism — but I’m talking about fundamentally changing the goalposts and getting politics out of tourism.

“The marketplace is confused about Bermuda because there’s a new Minister every four years, new boards and new advertising and PR agencies.

“The marketplace is confused about Bermuda because there is so much they can’t do.

“When people who know what they’re talking about aren’t listened to, that’s extremely foolhardy.

“I’ll move on, but people should stay tuned to this channel because I’ll continue to work to improve the industry.

“But until Government changes the structure, it won’t be any different.”

OBA Shadow Tourism Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said: “It is truly sad that the Government would apparently put ego and pride over the utilisation of willing expertise.

“There’s not been one Tourism Minister in the PLP Government with tourism management experience, yet they scoff at the idea of having those who know what they’re doing to drive the industry.

“I thought it was a move in the right direction to include the likes of Tony Brannon on the Tourism Board as his background lends itself to effective input.

“If there is genuine concern about the revitalisation of the industry and about putting Bermudians back to work — especially in the face of the massive layoffs that have occurred due to the PLP’s financial indiscipline — one would think it’s time to embody a tourism authority, staffed with people who know what they’re doing. Clearly, the Minister and Government do not.”

A Government spokeswoman confirmed Mr Brannon had been told he was off the Board.

She added: “The public can be assured that the work of the Board will not be adversely affected by Mr. Brannon’s departure and it is anticipated that the vacant Tourism Board post will be filled in due course.

“As this is an internal matter, the Bermuda Department of Tourism has declined further comment regarding the issue at this time.”