Thank goodness Michael Dunkley isn't tourism minister. He just doesn't understand the way the tourism industry works. Senator Marc Bean notes:

Senator Dunkley's most recent statement demonstrates a rare combination of ignorance and arrogance.

For the record, Sen. Dunkley must be the only politician in Bermuda who didn't know that the Government uses financial incentives to attract new airlines to Bermuda...

At the last Senate meeting, Sen Dunkley acknowledged the value of the hard work manifested by the Premier and his Ministry's team in securing affordable airlift to the island. Even in giving credit where it is justly due, Sen Dunkley exhibits a lack of knowledge on the standard operating process by which such airlift is secured. A MRG is an integral part of our strategy to provide incentives in this regard. Sen Dunkley must understand that Good Faith is the centrepiece in executing an agreement for mutually beneficial purposes. It is for this reason that Westjet has began the marketing and selling of seats, while the standard process of Cabinet approval of the MRG is conducted.

There's nothing special about the MRG. They're incredibly common. Scores of jurisdictions across the globe use them to attract airlift. And, both tourists and locals alike benefit.

The opposition's critique is the height of hypocrisy. On the one hand, they push the government to do more to attract air arrivals - and, on the other hand, they attack the government for taking action to attract air arrivals! Ridiculous.

These are tough times. Everyone is hurting. If we took Senator Dunkley's advice, there would be a disastrous drop in both airlift to Bermuda and tourism air arrivals. Senator Bean:

I'm am sure that the traveling public will appreciate an affordable option to Canada. What would be useful for Bermuda's Tourism industry is if Sen Dunkley, as the Shadow Minister, commits himself to being an active participant in the Industry's rebound, rather then speaking as a spectator.

Sen. Dunkley is right about one thing---it is not only the Premier's charm that has brought great airlift to Bermuda but the combination of intelligence, hard work and diplomacy!

Michael Dunkley is the man the UBP wants to lead the tourism industry. Yet, he displays a shocking ignorance of the way the industry works. Come next election, the public is wise to remember his ridiculous ideas.