TOURISM chiefs on the Isle of Wight have slammed a decision to turn a holiday camp into a SARS quarantine centre for students returning to the UK from the Far East.

Up to 140 students have been placed at a holiday camp near Ventnor so they can be studied over ten days for signs of the deadly flu-like SARS bug.

Tourism chief John Fleming said it was "ludicrous" to place the students in a holiday area, particularly during the busy Easter holiday.

"What I want to know is who took this decision and why," said Mr Fleming, IoW Council spokesman for tourism.

"I can see the logic in keeping these students in one place rather than having them scattered across the UK, but I do not see why they should come here. People are worried about SARS and this publicity will do our industry no good at all.

"What is the sense of bringing them to the Island from Gatwick Airport, especially when there is an influx of people also coming to the Island for the Easter holiday?"

Hotelier David Groocock, chairman of the IoW Tourist Industry Association, said: "As long as the students are kept at the centre then there is no danger but this sort of publicity cannot be good for our holiday industry.

"I do not know who has taken this decision and I would like to know why the tourist industry was not consulted."

The children have been brought to the Island by the Whitehouse Guardianship Agency and are staying at the East Dean Centre at Bonchurch.

They are mainly from Hong Kong and are students at private boarding schools across the south coast who have returned to the UK after spending their half-term holidays in their native countries.

Dr Paul Bingham, the Isle of Wight's consultant in health protection, said: "The council has been in touch with the centre's managing director and has her assurance that children will remain within the centre the whole time of their stay, as they are either continuing their studies or taking part in activities at the centre.

"SARS is not an easily-caught illness, being spread through close contact with an infected person, and I would emphasise that the risk to the public caused by the presence of these young people is negligible."

John Metcalfe, IoW Council head of community development and tourism, said: "I would like to reassure visitors and residents that the Isle of Wight has some fantastic opportunities for relaxation and entertainment this bank holiday weekend, as always. So make the most of it - walk, sail and enjoy the beautiful beaches and countryside as planned."

But Mr Metcalfe slammed the decision as "incomprehensible" and said the IoW Council had not been consulted over the decision.