The Tourist Board report says the island's airlinks are fragile

The warning comes from Tourist Board president, Deputy Geoff Norman, who has unveiled his committee's latest action plan.

It is the third in a series that began with the launch of a five-year strategy in December 2000.

The President says he hopes subsidies are not on the horizon, but such financial lifelines cannot be ruled out.

'Difficult circumstances'

"We may come to the stage where we have to subsidise some of these routes to keep them going," he said.

"We can't force airlines to operate under these difficult circumstances if they say it is not viable to do so."

The nine-page action plan booklet covers all aspects of tourism activity, and includes a review of 2002.

It gives a detailed breakdown of budgets, marketing, product development and administration.

'Critical milestone'

The plan has been sent to stakeholders in the island's visitor economy to explain the progress and implementation of the five-year strategy.

Deputy Norman says 2003 marks the midpoint in the strategy and the island has reached a critical milestone.

He says although there were some disappointments last year, it is more important than ever to keep focused on targets that were set more than two years ago.

Deputy Norman says early indications are promising and they are quietly optimistic that 2003 will be a busy year.