Statistics Report: Imports, Tourism, Employment
According to the 2015 Q3 Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics, imports declined 12.5% to $221.8 million, employment income increased 3.4% and the Island hosted 76,479 air visitors during the 2015 third quarter, a decline of 2.2% year over-year.
As far as imports the report said, “Imports declined 12.5 per cent to $221.8 million. The decline was due mainly to a 64.2 per cent drop in fuel imports.
“The value of imports for the commodity group of food, beverages and tobacco decreased 5.3 per cent and imports of finished equipment decreased 0.9 per cent. In contrast, imports from all other commodity groups increased.
“Imports from Bermuda’s largest trading partner, the United States, fell 16.8 per cent to $143.9 million during the third quarter. Imports from Canada also declined. In contrast, the value of imports increased from the United Kingdom, Caribbean and all other countries.
Chart extracted from the report:
In addressing employment, the report, said, “Employment income increased 3.4 per cent or $25.3 million. The international business sector recorded the largest percentage increase in remuneration of 9.8 per cent due primarily to bonuses and stock options
On the topic of tourism the report said, “The Island hosted 76,479 air visitors during the third quarter of 2015, a decline of 2.2 per cent year over-year. Estimated total expenditure by air visitors declined 12.1 per cent to $94.7 million compared to the same period of 2014. Visitors spent $15.8 million less on accommodation and food but $2.7 million more on shopping, entertainment and transport services.
“A total of fifty-four cruise ships visited the Island carrying 182,256 passengers. Total expenditure for these passengers was estimated at $38.0 million. In comparison, fifty three cruise ships visited Bermuda’s ports during the same period in 2014 and $35.3 million was spent by cruise visitors.
“At the end of July 2015, there were 2,649 workers employed within the hotel industry. The level of employment increased by 164 employees, representing 94 Bermudians and 70 non Bermudians.
“Hotel gross receipts totaled $97.9 million. This represented an increase of 1.9 per cent or $1.8 million. The rise in receipts was due to increases in room, food and alcohol sales.”
The 3rd Quarter 2015 Quarterly Bulletin Of Statistics follows below [PDF here]:
“On the topic of tourism the report said, “The Island hosted 76,479 air visitors during the third quarter of 2015, a decline of 2.2 per cent year over-year. Estimated total expenditure by air visitors declined 12.1 per cent to $94.7 million compared to the same period of 2014.”
Hmm and double hmm.
The BTA cited the increase expenditure, per air arrival visitor, as an example of their success. An expenditure decline of 12.1% with an air arrival visitor decline of 2.2% indicates expenditure, per visitor, is down….and not up as the BTA has claimed.
The only bright spot are the cruise ship numbers. I am not sure who takes credit for this..the BTA or the previous Govt who built the piers amid much criticism.
Hey look at this way even if the visitors are going down the BTA pay checks are going up.lol$$$$$$$
Dumb a$$ oba government made promises that they can’t keep to the voters.
Haters are gonna hate
Is this the same person who thinks a 1.5% increase in land tax is 100% increase!
Can someone remind me again why we are paying top dollar for the BTA CEO? Nevermind, I recall it was for top talent, top connections in the industry, a mover a shaker ra ra ra….well the results continue to say different. Not marginal increases, not flat numbers, but decreases? That huge salary, that housing allowance, that car and that bonus need to be returned and this position handed to someone who can get the job done. And many on this site will harp IF THIS WAS AN INTL. COMPANY, THIS CEO WOULD HAVE LONG BEEN FIRED! we are waiting..
It will be interesting to see how the BTA spins these numbers. Air arrivals are down and undoubtedly the BTA should ‘own’ these numbers by now
Maybe they will point to the significant increase in overall visitor numbers.
The key metric has and will always be air arrivals. This is the metric by which Bermuda’s tourism is judged. Air arrivals are down…there is no escaping that.
And there is no escaping that overall arrivals are up, significantly.
Ok Zevon…we’ll just charge it to ignorance.
It is a shame that Hambury lives off of Bermuda and continues to fail. He needs to go and I’m not just saying it to say it. THE NUMBERS PROVE IT.
I have never heard of a company giving bonuses to employees when they fail. Only in Bermuda. Well as the tourism slogan says. ‘So much more’ money going into hanburys pocket.
The numbers show a significant increase in overall visitors. The numbers are improving. Of course, you have to look at the report to see that.
And can someone remind us why we are paying top money for a gaming commissioner executive who is obvously on a 10 year plan for his personal retirement. If he is so experienced then why will it take years to get casino up? We are lot Las Vegas or Bahamas!
We are getting NO taxes and NO jobs only getting BILLS, BILLS and MORE BILLS! Unbelievable! The Auditor General should be looking at the BTA and the Gaming Commission for poor use of Government funds!
Being a myself statistician I find it hilarious that any statistics department would release a report with only three years of data.
Three data points is the absolutely smallest amount of data you could present to anyone on anything and at the end of the day it tells you nothing.
With a short sighted view of things how can anything beneficial come from these reports.
3 years is a long time when you give someone $30M to spend of our hard earned money! Get off of the soapbox and get real. If they cant generate some positive in 3 years then lets get someone else in there or do it ourselves. $30M? We could have offered FREE airlift to all customers who commit to staying in a hotel for 5 days or more or a discount on rooms for stays of that length! Think about it! Why put all this $ into these executives when we can use it to actually create volume and bring people to Bermuda to spend $?
At least we know what’s happening now – that’s good news
Kangoocar? Triangle Drifter? and the other BTA/OBA Cheerleaders? you were saying?
And don’t get me wrong, I am all for the arrivals to go thru the roof…But when you have ppl bashing and slamming others (BDoT, Dr. Brown when he was the minister)and now you are silent…That was when I long figured out who you ppl really where….WHERE ARE OUR RESULTS?!
I say we bring back the old department of tourism. .. increase the budget to 60 million dollars so the minister can go to India. .China. .and all over ..with an entourage. … .
Oh… hang on we tried that for 20 plus yrs. .. and it got us no where…
Leave the job to the professionals an let them get on with it and stop whinning. ..