Statistics: 2010 Air Arrivals Down, Cruise Up
Cumulative visitor arrivals to Bermuda in 2010 were up 4.7% for the year. A total of 585,266 visitors graced the islands shores during this period, up from 559,048 visitors in 2009.
The jump in total arrivals came despite a continuing decline in air arrivals, which saw a drop of 1.5% in 2010. Cruise arrivals to the island increased for the year to the tune of just over 9%, which the report said a direct result of the additional 14 cruise ship calls for the period.
The month of September did not fare as well declining by a dramatic 14% as the island was hit by a number of tropical systems, mainly Hurricane Igor which causes the airpot to close for two days resulting in many cancelled flights and reservations.
Air visitation by nationality remains dominated by the United States with 72% of all visitors residing in this region. Figures supplied by the Bermuda Hotel Association show that hotel occupancy increased three percentage points, averaging out at 54% for the year for their member properties.
Presenting the figures yesterday, Tourism Minister Patrice Minors said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am excited about the future of Bermuda tourism. We are being aggressive with our promotions and marketing efforts and we are keen to ensure that there is a great buzz about Bermuda. We are single-minded and focused to ensuring that this industry is a success. From our high-profile consumer events to our property developments – this is a very busy time for Bermuda tourism and we’re delighted about the possibilities.”
The full 24-page report is below, click ‘Full Screen’ for greater clarity;
It’s a Booze cruize………Jingus….$800 from the nearest east coast supplier. Hundreds of dollars a night. No entertainment. Murders. Taxi service nil. (except the mysty guys)
Get real……….
1 Million people can come on cruise ships. Paid for. Shit…..put some sand in your shoes and sell it in/on Jersey wioth a few “minatures”….damn…..
Quo Fata fer Hell…………
What they need to start doing is separating out how many of these “visitors” are international business people flying in and out. That will really show the average person that our tourism product needs changing. There are thousands of clients, brokers, investment people, cat model vendors and internal company employees from other offices visiting this island each quarter which severely skews the amount of true “tourists”.
I think our Government know that if they separate out the business visitors these numbers will look a lot more dismal. And they’ll be forced to realize that International business has saved our behinds in more ways than we can count on one hand.
Let’s get Bermuda back on track people. Promote International Business – we are lucky to still have what we have left here so be appreciative.
When it comes to measuring the marketing ability of BDA tourism the stat that matters is the number of air arrivals. A high number of cruise ship passengers is down to the work of the marketing departments of the cruise ship companies. They want to fill their ships. Yes we negotiate with the cruise lines to bring the ships in but the number of passengers is their concern.
BDA tourism only attracted 141,000 tourists to the island in 2010 via air travel – how does that compare to our competing destinations?
There has been the demand for years now to separate the business from the leasure from the visitor from the returning resident figures. The info is there. We all fill out those forms & the forms ask the who why & where.
Where does this information go?
When the numbers are bad, and they are very bad right now, the Government trys to skew the relevent numbers with mush. Deceiving those who need to know serves no useful purpose at all.
While air visitor numbers are important, what is most important is the number of BED NIGHTS that they stay. While the business guy who comes in for a day long meeting is worth far more tha a cruise visitor, he is not doing the day activities that a regular air visitor is going to do though it is true that he will eat a much more expensive meal than the regular air visitor will. We are lucky if a cruise visitor buys a hamburger while onshore.
Not counting the cruise visitor or business visitor, how much does the DOT spend to attract each air visitor & how does that compare in yield with our competitors?
DOT has the numbers. Where are the statistics extracted from those numbers?
I’m guessing the ‘Platinum Period’ has ended???
Minister Minors, as the new Tourism Minister has an excellent opportunity to accept that the numbers are not good and haven’t been good for the last X years. Clear the air, throw in the kitchen sink and start afresh. She should then recast the numbers according to the questions on the Forms – visitors, visiting family and friends, business – so the real picture can be seen. Figures that becoem meaningful as to how the tourism dollar can best be directed.
She can then take the position that she is up to the challenge and encourages assistance and input. In my view such an admission would gain her serious goodwill and support from the majority of Bermudians – be truthful and accept what has happened in the past but be resolute in going forward.
Robert Bryce has the right idea. It’s a suggestion Minister Minors would do well to consider. She should be completely open and honest about how bad things have been, and what a disaster it has been for the past x years (3? 5? 12? 20? whatever). The stats should be layed out in detail…how many of each type of visitor for each year, etc.
Than, we could actually trust reports about progress going forward.
The current Minister is completely new to the job, She could do this – she could start afresh with some credibility.