Tourism Stats Released, Premier “Optimistic”
Premier Craig Cannonier said he is “optimistic about the current state of tourism” based on the Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics released by the Department of Statistics today [Apr 2].
The Department of Statistics data for the fourth quarter of 2013 [October to December] indicates that air arrivals increased by 6.3% compared to the same quarter of 2012. A total of 47,211 tourists visited the Island, up from 44,406 in 2012.
This resulted in increased bookings for all tourism accommodation properties, with small hotels, and cottage colonies and clubs recorded the largest increase in bookings, registering 1,274 more guests.
The 6.3% increase in fourth quarter air passengers translated into a 6% rise in visitor spending, as expenditure was estimated at $61.9 million, representing a $3.5 million increase.
In addition, cruise ship arrivals jumped 35.4% to 47,497 passengers compared to the same period in 2012. Cruise visitors spent $10.1 million on local goods and services, a $2.7 million increase over the $7.4 million recorded in the same quarter of 2012.
The Premier said, “I’m very encouraged to see these signs of optimism from our visitors. I applaud the hard work of the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Shawn Crockwell and the Department of Tourism, especially during that timeframe.
“We’ve still got a long road ahead of us, but I believe the country should also see these figures as positive indicators of our efforts to move the in the right direction.”
The full Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics is below [PDF here]:
I’d like to see that graph going back to the 70s to get a real sense of what has been happening over the very long term.
It would also be interesting to see the number of propertys available & beds available over that time.
I’ll wager that the 2000s were disasterous & this is the first hint of a turnaround.
Sorry to disappoint but the strongest air arrival numbers in the past 15-20 years came in 2007. That happened when the ad agency was GlobalHue and the PLP was the Government. Check your sources to confirm my information.
… and by April 2011 air arrivals where down 35%. That also happened when the ad agency was GlobalHue and the PLP was the Government. And that 35% drop only cost us 28 million. Thanks for that.
No one cares what you think..how much did we pay for the Global Hue results ? And what about the thousands of expats you drove out…..go away…..try Martha’s Vineyard and swim there
Well, we paid 13 million for GlobalHue to jump on board an upward trend in air arrivals in 2006 and 28 million in 2009 for their next 3-year contract, which ended in a 35% drop in air arrivals and allegations of over-billing and ‘creative invoicing’.
But let Dr. Brown have his brief spike in 2007.
@”Navin Johnson”: Clearly YOU care what I think!
We paid GlobalHue the same amount we paid the agencies before and after them. For those hooded ones who operate on the basis of ignorance, the frequently mentioned $28m was NOT the fee paid to the agency. It was the advertising budget for Bermuda!
As for the “thousands of ex-pats” I drove away, again you have it wrong. The only ex-pats who left because of our counter-racist policies should have left and may they stay away forever.
Martha’s Vineyard is beautiful, Turks and Caicos is gorgeous and Bermuda is my home!
Ironic how you continue to use ‘Honourable’ in your title….
Re my title, I was given permission by your folks to use it.
Re my title, I was given permission by your folks to use it.
This means you are proud to have a “white” title. How very ironic, yet so typical. Want Independence and to be free of Colonialism yet happy to accept Hon and Dame.
Pride has nothing to do with it. How is a title “white”? If you mean that it was given by Whites, you are correct. They can also take it away. Read my words carefully: “I was given permission to USE it.”
You were given permission to use it, and you earned it fair and square. But it is used at your choice, and whether you admit it or not, there is some irony in that.
You spend a lot of time belittling the UK and its traditions. Yet you make a point to choose to always include in your name an honour given to you by the UK under its institutions and traditions. That is ironic.
You don’t get it. My actual, legal name is not African. It has European roots just like the other titles which we are permitted to use. Such is the awesome power of White Supremacy!
Suzie gets it very well. So do you, despite the usual non-answer.
So says the same man (dreb,) that we were entering the ” Platinum Period??” One thing I got to give the dreb, he always let’s his arrogance get in the way of the facts!!! I think the time has long past for the dreb to for once do the right thing and apologize and then keep a low profile!!!
That is correct. We called it the “Platinum Period” and had the US economy not begun to tank in late 2007 I believe the Platinum Period would have been a reality.
Why is it that I am “arrogant” when I stand up instead of bending over. I told you and yours years ago that if there is to be a man-boy relationship, I decline the “boy” role.
When you can stop hiding behind a false name, call me.
In 2010 you told us financing was in place and the Hyatt would be built starting in November 2011. But that didn’t happen because …. Oh yeah, the mythical worldwide recession came up and surprised you. Got it.
@Sandy Bottom: If you think the worldwide recession is “mythical” you need to be educated! The financing for large hospitality projects is not a static transaction. Money doesn’t sit and wait. It is a fact that funding was in place for the Park Hyatt until St. Kitts offered the same investors what they considered was a superior opportunity. That is why you will see in every jurisdiction instances of plans changing as investment money moves to more fertile ground. Bermuda is not unique in this regard.
A good example is Ariel Sands. In 2007 they thought they were ready to go and things fell apart. So the owners kept plugging away and now they are confident that they have a solid plan to move forward.
Remember the original grand plan for Morgan’s Point? Now look at the scaled-down “boutique” hotel being planned. Got it?
So in 2010 when you announced that “financing is in place and ground will be broken in November 2011″, you actually meant that “financing is not in place and I have no real idea when or if ground will ever be broken”.
@SQ (UNK): No,I meant what I said. There were investors who walked away when Park Hyatt announced the St. Kitts deal. Your racist core will not allow you to believe the truth.
No, you did not mean it when you said it. It wasn’t true. Nobody says “I will finance that new hotel a year from now”. If financing were really “in place”, the investors would have wanted work to start right away.
There was no financing “in place”. You just wanted a headline.
Your racist core will not allow you to admit the truth.
Of course they wanted to start right away. That’s why we demonstrated our willingness to move quickly as well. That is why the old hotel and the clubhouse were demolished. It seems that most of you here are rookies in the hospitality business so I will leave you to talk with each other.
BTW, as a non-white person I cannot be a Racist, I could have Racist thoughts or ideas but I cannot be a Racist because I have no power to implement.
So financing was not actually in place, was it. You had no idea when ground would be broken.
Dr Brown, I think people have a legitimate grievance in that there were so many promises broken that everything ended up looking like a political shell game, an expensive one at that. Especially to those who live and work in St George’s.
Although I understand imploding the main hotel for both safety concerns and a show of good faith, the questions I have are:
A. Why would you tear down the golf club when it served both the local public and visitors? Nick Faldo needed at least two years to get anything done there and it cost money to buy the restaurant business out of their lease. It would have been prudent to run it as a 9 hole with the front nine until the main hotel was up and the back nine done first.
B. Why tear down the beach club? That served locals and visitors alike and would have been just a small part of the whole development. Again it must have cost some sum to buy out the business lease, correct?
C. Why was everything torn down, or shut down, when there were no approved plans in place? Did the Planning Department even have anything to go by at the time?
Was that about the time you destroyed the fully functioning golf course?
@SQ: Nope, the golf course was not “destroyed”. The plan was for Nick Faldo (who had signed up)to design a beautiful 18-hole course to replace the sub-optimal course that was in place. The clubhouse and other demolition was done as part of the plan to build a new hotel. When that did not happen, the golf course plans went away too.
But you know that, don’t you? Only a deranged person would believe that a Bermudian Tourism minister would “destroy” a golf course in Bermuda? Have you figured out why you think like that?
I think like that because that’s what happened.
The golf course is still there. Therefore the accurate comment would be that we “closed down” the golf course. That’s what happened.
Any urge to remove your hood yet?
Yes, the course is still there but now needs many hundreds of thousands of dollars spent to get it back to a playable condition. Had it been maintained and left to be used it would have generated income and be in a playable condition. The lease should have been drawn up so that it would have been available to be used until financing was in place and construction of the new course/hotel started. Basic really but then that would have needed some thought and foresight.
The only Government golf course that produced a profit was Port Royal. Because an entity generates “income” doesn’t mean it is financially viable.
So you closed it down and let it become destroyed. You carry on splitting those hairs.
Cox ditched Global Hue the minute you were gone.
The feeling was mutual. GH had tired of the toxic, racist atmosphere and moved on to bigger and better accomplishments, such as producing a Super Bowl ad featuring Oprah Winfrey. They were convinced that any business owned by a Black man was destined to face the torrent of suspicion, allegations and outright lies!
No, they were dumped by Cox because they were an embarrassment to her. Over-priced, under-performing. The PLP Way.
They were only an “embarrassment” because certain people waged a nasty racist campaign to convince people that GH was bad news. They have done very well elsewhere but chose to do bad things in Bermuda?
This is exciting…..maybe I’ll think about returning to the ring for another bout.
No, Cox dumped them because they were expensive and ineffective.
Take a look at the air arrivals chart and see that GlobalHue’s work coincided with an increase in 2006-2007. I know you cannot accept that as the truth but it happened. In fact we had the numbers re-checked by a European company.
Yet, as others have said, Cox dumped them the minute you were gone.
Friends n Family again!
Are you referring to current Government policy?
Bermuda so much less for so much more.
If only the father of the OBA , the UBP had allowed Club Med have its alternative beach back in the 80′s .
While I do agree with you on this one, but you must realize the UBP caved into the church goers who were up in arms on that!!
Wow the premier said something. spending our money to try and save his job!
The Platinum Period was when anyone who visited counted as a tourist. That include business people, people visiting friends and family and even work permit holders and PRC were included for a time, and these had nothing to do with Tourism. It would be a more accurate position to have each category broken out which can easily be done as the entry form asks for it. However this would show how the millions of dollars spent on advertising, which includes money paid to placement agencies, is totally wasted and unnecessary.
The same Civil Servants who are counting arrivals now counted them under the PLP Government!
Well at least you didn’t disagree that the numbers are wrong and the tourism budget wasted and unnecessary. Those same Civil Servants (as you referred to them) are probably also providing Ministers with false population numbers and other statistical rubbish.
You people should give the good doctor his due. You’ll recall he went so far out of his way to increase arrivals, he even chartered a plane in the middle of the night to bring four visitors here. I mean, is there a limit to this man’s dedication?
Get it right Cr*****! The plane was not chartered by me or the Bermuda Government. I am very proud of the conduct of the Uighurs since they have been in Bermuda!
Wow.
I swear some people are never satisfied. The PLP didn’t want him so they got rid, the Bermuda didn’t want PLP so they got rid. His reputation is as the most hated Bermudian ever. is this not enough? You continue to taunt him in a column such as this? Knowing that his only defense is the so last century race card? You people should be ashamed.
Let the man drool in his bathchair and mess his American made Depends in peace.
You are re-writing history. I might be the most hated Bermudian in your circles, but your circle is much smaller than mine. The “race Card” to which you refer is not “last century” at all. You would like it to be so, but your less sophisticated colleagues continue to shoot unarmed young Black men, demonstrating that the Race Card has never been OUT OF PLAY!
You’re the Thatcher of Bermuda. That will be your legacy.
I have no need to re-write history Dr B. We will be remembered for how people eventually perceive us. The truth does not matter. But then you would know that.
What I find really sad is that you seem to have lost the ability to discuss anything without using the race card. Today’s conversation has proven that. How the mighty have fallen. You, as one of the highest intellect has merely thrown race in as if you have no real argument to make. I conclude that is because you don’t.
The personal racist insult to me (that was XXXXed out by Bernews) was of particular interest. If I had done a similar thing to you, why you’d be all over it calling me the biggest of racists. But yet again its OK when some people do it I guess.
I am thrilled to be living in a time where each day makes you less and less relevant to Bermuda.
But don’t worry Dr B, There’s still a brass ring within your grasp. It is on the Merry Go Round at Oak Bluff. Enjoy it.
You speak as though you can prevent my future involvement in Bermuda politics. Stay tuned.
Even though I do not think I know your true identity (because you have chosen to hide), I was able to determine, through your comments, that you are in my opinion a racist. So I used a word that is a synonym for “racist”. You did not have to use any special language for me to conclude that your comments were racist. And that is fine as far as I am concerned.
It is most interesting that those who practice White Supremacy are usually the first to accuse non-whites of “using the Race Card”.
As I have said many times, the so-called Race Card has been in play for at least 400 years, so I do not have to introduce it. It is constant. It doesn’t have to be “played”. There is no more important discussion than Race.
When you gather the personal strength, reveal your true identity. It will take away your deep-seated fear!
Thank you sir for proving my point above.
Still waiting for you admit you were incorrect about my chartering a plane for the Uighurs. After all, nobody will know who you are…..unless you’re ready to remove the hood!
“You speak as though you can prevent my future involvement in Bermuda politics. Stay tuned.”
Lord help us.
Yes, begin to pray daily.
You should come back for another round. Please do. Bermuda needs you.
The only Government golf course that produced a profit was Port Royal, according to the ex Premier. No proof, just words. Profit after how many millions was spent? Still making a profit? Dream on.
By the way, I can’t respond to your post so I am replying here. I never said profit, I said income. Why can’t politicians stick to the facts and respond to what is said? Income would offset the costs, as opposed to now having all costs and no income. No wonder Bermuda is in the dire financial straits it’s in when politicians from the 1990′s are unable to understand basic finance.
Costs have exceeded income at every Government golf course, except for Port Royal, for many years. I know that to be a fact. Obviously I do not have documents to share with you on this blog. Just ask somebody you trust and they’ll tell you.
So you closed down something where costs exceeded income. Ok.
Isn’t this similar to the type of thinking that lead to closing Lambe Foggo?
Golf course vs healthcare facility?
Are you referring to the part-time under-utilized first aid post?
But anyway, you ignored the point. You closed down something on the basis the costs exceeded the income, which is very similar to the thought behind Lambe Foggo.
The difference is/was that when we closed down the golf course, there was no political pushback that would have had us reconsider. It made sense in view of the progress we were making on the project. Got it yet?
It is obvious that no one can criticize a black organization without being called a racist by the has-been. Fuseideas was not on the ball… those tv commercials they produced were incredibly un-creative and poorly produced. And they certainly did not differentiate Bermuda from the rest. Did they attract any new tourism business to the Island? I very much doubt it because they didn’t fish where the fish are. The true ROI would tell us, though… but there is no way to track ROI… so talk is very cheap.
The cliff jumping videos produced by local teenagers were much better, IMO! And the Pharrell Williams “Happy Bermuda” mix is spectacular, again locally produced.
They are still saying,”Bermuda is More.” Actually, in my opinion, Bermuda is LESS, and visitors like it that way: we’re close, clean, safe, friendly, beautiful and different. Nothing’s changed. Except the number of hotels still open. How many closed on the plp’s watch?
So when the Porch Lady shouted to the largely black union marchers to go back to work , in your opinion , was she racist or was she insensitive ?
Coffee perhaps you misunderstood: Anyone who criticizes the PLP or its members for any reason is automatically branded as racist. Matters not what colour you are, or what your complaint was, you are branded as racist. It is the only way the PLP operates.
Its how PLP got in power, and it is why they eventually were voted out. It helped them for many years, now it is their worst enemy. People are simply no longer interested in racial hatred. The few people who still promote it will soon be dead and their hatred will die with them.
Perhaps then we can get on and live in peace.
This is so self-serving it deserves a comment.
You, Citizen Banned, began your comments on this thread with the following statement:
“he even chartered a plane in the middle of the night to bring four visitors here….” That is a lie and you knew it was a lie when you were writing it.
The only reason you are so bold is because your identity has not been revealed.
The history of Racism is full of stories about attackers who hid their faces while they perpetrated acts of terrorism on Black people. (KKK)
Not every critic of the PLP is “branded as a racist” but most of those who write the vitriol on these blogs ARE racists. Their criticisms may be rational, but the source is often racist. I do not expect you to admit that you understand what I and others have to say on the subject.
What about the folks that attack on YOUR side while hiding behind a hood? Are they as bad? If not, why not?
@Mike Hind: I don’t know the sides you speak of although I can take an educated guess. I think Bermuda would be a much less toxic place if ALL bloggers revealed their names. Laverne Furbert sets a great example.
The sides would be the political sides, as that was what you were talking about. Not sure why there was any confusion. Or was there?
Bermuda would ALSO be a much less toxic place if people were honest and showed integrity and didn’t lash out with false accusations when simple questions are asked.
I won’t engage for too long over what you meant by sides. You could have simply answered the question. In my country, there are many “sides”. PLP v OBA, Black v White, Ex-pats v Bermudians, etc.
I agree with your comment about integrity and false accusations.
And if you don’t expect people to understand, why not educate and elucidate instead of dismissing?
Why not have a REAL Big Conversation?
Firstly Mike, you have my support and admiration for standing up to a bully like this using your own name. I am a big fan.
You should ease up on the good doctor’s late night rants though. After all, we’ve all done idiotic, stupid, moronic, and blatantly wrong things late at night that we regret. I’ve driven home after one too many, also banged a friend’s fiancee once (twice actually).
Of course most of us can’t include human trafficking across international jurisdictions among our ‘less than sensible’ after hours activities.
What I can say is that I now do sleep at night. Something the good doctor obviously can’t claim. I’m sure he’ll somehow find a way to relate this post to racism though. I guess that’s what decades with the Pathetic Leech Party (PLP) does to one.
In addition, I’m sure one is currently checking immigration to see if I’m on a work permit.
Sorry!
Dude, don’t bring me into your attack.
I appreciate your kind words about my choice to use my real name, but the rest of it… nothing to do with me.
I’m simply asking questions.
@Mike Hind: Great idea! Why don’t you start a REAL Big Conversation? One with somebody in charge other than Rolfe?
Are evasions and silly games like this REALLY the best way forward, Dr. Brown?
Why not answer the question?
Could it be that the poster who portrays themselves as the ex Premier is not? Why would an ex Premier take so much time to post on a blog? It makes no sense. He is very smart, but this person is not.
Just checking the landscape for a possible return to the political scene. Looks like I might not be smart enough though. I’ll have to go to the OBA and get smarter
Sorry if I didnt answer the questions. Yes, I agree that issues should be elucidated and comments should not be “dismissed”. I also agree that there should be a REAL Big Conversation. Of course this implies that the Big Conversation in the past was not REAL.
Any other questions?
I usually answer questions….as long as they are not Plantation Questions.
Then why did you do just that?
Boring and predictable, with a dash of race card thrown in for consistency.
@Citizen Banned/James Herald AKA Citizen Banned/James Herald:
It matters not what you call yourself. But didn’t you know you were lying when you wrote that I had chartered a plane to bring the Uighurs to Bermuda?
Sir I was not aware of lying and still am not aware of lying – therefore I am not a liar.
I am still under the impression that you chartered the plane. This is not a ‘We had to mislead you’ moment for me sir. I’m quite certain sir that you didn’t pump up the tires on the plane and you didn’t pump it full of jet fuel either. You probably didn’t operate the wing flaps.
But you were the architect of the incident. That was the point I was making.
In addition sir, you are a politician. On your best day, almost 50% of people will still disagree with you. This does not make me a racist, and your accusation that I am is a cheap cop out, an excuse intimidate me, and you know it.
Respectfully submitted,
JH
You guys are cute! When you want politicians to be specific you call us on it. When I say I did not charter a plane (after you wrote exactly that), you shift to “the architect of the incident”.
That was obvious long before you felt compelled to “reveal” it. Of course I was the architect and am PROUD of my decision.
What makes you a racist, is not just your false statement, but my assessment of all that you have written from your hideout.
Let’s be clear, I do not desire or need a “cop out”. Nor do I have a desire to intimidate you. In fact, it is against the rules of the United Independent Code to attempt to “intimidate” a racist.
If in doubt, call somebody a racist. Consistent until the end.
As I said one of my first comments – ‘so last century’.
I bid you good-day sir.
JH
@ Mike Hind: Relax sir. I simply overlooked your questions and subsequently did answer them. You, on the other hand never said whether you would be willing to lead the REAL Conversation.
No. You didn’t. You evaded, again. Sad.
As for me leading a “Big Conversation”?
I’m trying to have a small one right now. It’s not easy when someone keeps playing silly games.
Try honesty and maybe we can have a conversation, Big or small.
Sir, what is your question? Don’t you understand that I have no fear of you or your questions. In fact I would be willing to answer you directly if you wish to call my office (297-3332) and leave a number for me to call. That should end this charade.
Mike Hind , please Mike don’t let us down. Make the call and allow us all to be proud of you . Don’t let a lil’ old man like Dr.Brown back you up , for the love of God man call the number , let it never be said that you declined to engage a man of equal intellectual abilities in a serious conversation for the betterment of mankind . Let the dialogue begin in earnest !