BTA Release 2015 Year End Arrivals Statistics
Total vacation visitor arrivals for 2015 were up 2.4%, fuelled by a 4.2% increase in cruise visitors, while vacation air arrivals were down 1.2%, the Bermuda Tourism Authority said today.
The BTA said, “Total vacation visitor arrivals for 2015 were up 2.4 percent, fuelled by a 4.2 percent increase in cruise visitors [14,876 passengers].
“Vacation air arrivals were down 1.2 percent last year [1,689 passengers], a slight decrease when measured against a loss of 51,090 commercial airline seats serving the island.
“Vacation air arrivals from Canada presented a major challenge because of the troubled economy there and the weak dollar, which made a Bermuda vacation more expensive for Canadians.
“Vacationers from Canada by air were off 17 percent in 2015 versus 2014. Had Canadian visitor numbers remained flat or declined less sharply, vacation air arrivals would have been positive for the year. U.S visitors [+0.5 percent] and U.K. visitors [+9 percent] were both up.
“Turks & Caicos, St. Kitts & Nevis, Cayman and Jamaica are a few other island destinations that also experienced a decrease in Canadian air visitors in 2015, according to the most recently available reports.”
“The headwinds we experienced with the Canadian economy, the shrinking airlift and a 2 percent decrease in the number of hotel rooms available were too difficult to simultaneously overcome on the air vacationer side of the equation,” said BTA CEO Bill Hanbury.
“However, we generated growth from two of our three top countries of origin which is a good building block going forward, especially as our partners in government have secured more airlift for 2016.
“With those factors in place and a growing number of group sales on the books, plus a successful Pink Sale promotion we believe we have a solid foundation for the year ahead.”
Visitor Spending
The BTA said, “Cruise visitors spent more on-island in 2015 than they did in 2014, growing from an average of $101 per person to $130 per person, a 29 percent increase. Per person spending for air visitors was slightly lower, sliding from an average of $1,249 per person in 2014 to $1,177 per person in 2015, a 6 percent decrease.
“Among vacationing air travellers, a 19 percent decrease in accommodation spending was the main reason for a lessened economic impact. Spending across the wider tourism economy, however, remains strong and is consistent with marketing efforts to promote Bermuda as a destination for explorers who enjoy experiencing the island beyond the confines of their hotel.”
Mr Hanbury said, “Our product and experiences team has been consistent in its support of new events like Bermuda Heroes’ Weekend and new excursions like Kinezumi Water Sports that align with what our consumer research tells us visitors want. We believe this is ultimately the best formula for growing visitor spending across the tourism economy. Visitors will spend more when they find experiences that match their desires.”
“In the year ahead, cruise visitors are expected to play a greater role in visitor spending with a projected increase in economic impact for the country as a result of an estimated 10 percent jump in cruise vacationers,” the BTA added.
“The 2016 schedule includes more small cruise ship calls to Hamilton [up 13 percent from 15 to 17] and St. George [up 100 percent from two to four]. Small cruise ships typically carry higher spending visitors which is critically important to restaurants, retailers and attractions.
America’s Cup Impact
“The upcoming America’s Cup in 2017 and last year’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in October are positively impacting visitor arrival numbers.
“For example, the international sailing event, along with a collection of group travel activity including the Nike Golf PGA Championship of Canada, the Royal Bermuda Regiment Tattoo, Round the Sound Swim, Argo Gold Cup and the Young Presidents’ Organisation regional conference, resulted in a high-performing October 2015.
“For that month total visitor arrivals were up 44 percent, total air arrivals were up 15 percent, vacation air arrivals were up 12 percent, hotel occupancy was up 16 percent and tourism-related retail spending was up about onethird.
“Additionally the BTA’s America’s Cup partnership has provided marketing momentum going into 2016 with extensive media exposure and opportunities for marketing activations with Louis Vuitton, Moet, Red Bull and other sailing-affiliated lifestyle brands.
“Also this year, new sailing events are on tap specifically because regatta organisers want to capitalise on the America’s Cup excitement – the M32 winter series, RC44, and the Antigua-Bermuda Race are all coming to Bermuda in 2016 because it’s the home of the America’s Cup.
“The sport’s worldwide appeal also played a role in helping Bermuda find its way onto the 2016 must-visit lists of some of the most desirable travel publications in the world including National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report and Conde Nast Traveler.”
Fire everybody involved .
I don’t think a mass firing will accomplish much. However a leaner more efficient staff should be given serious consideration.
Let’s carry that thought across to all public employees who only increased productivity by 2.4% in 2015 vs 2014.
$1000,00 a day and $80,000 bogus bonus.
F!@#ing Pathetic
We need more hotel guests. The cruise ship has pre-sold the vacationer everything before they even get here. In my opinion we need to focus on getting good quality hotels back on the island. These hotels market Bermuda as the destination. I don’t believe cruise ships are the way to go. We need a quality visitor. Less people spending more money. More designer stores and less trinket shops. Focus on quality. Don’t let Bermuda become Disneyesque.
We need to target the middle class!!! That’s the problem. We keep targeting the super rich.
I remember when bill first came to bermuda he said give him 6 months. Now it’s been over 6 months and the numbers a still at a negative. He along with others in that department need to be replaced but noooo they’ll get bonuses instead. Bermuda is another world.
Only one who is happy is bill cause he gets 1000 a day regardless if he does a piss poor job or not.
Hanbury is not the only one on the staff who receives a bonus regardless of performance! Minister Crockwell is very generous with our money.
He didn’t get the memo from Minister Richards which states,”money doesn’t grow on trees.
Cute yes and very true
After year 3 of Bills contract, it needs to be reevaluated. If the 2016 numbers are not up a minimium of 10%, I’m sorry Bill, but you gonna have to “Kick Rocks” and go back to the US!
After three years Bill can hang out here for 20 as become a citizen…
But on a note of more importance I would like to know just when are people going to get it. As it is here the middle class in the United States is being decimated – Where do we begin? Despite the US governments attempts to put lipstick on their pig of an economy middle class earners adjusted for inflation are at mid 70′s levels in earnings – what is more sad that the average US household savings very poor indeed – see here
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/04/26/Americans-Low-Savings-Rate-Bad-Sign-Good-Economy
What most people fail to recognize is that the United states in fact more indebted than Greece! The debt to income ratio in the US is presently 370%!!! Versus 177% in Greece – oh I forgot the Fed can print money as necessary. That has worked really well since 2008 hasn’t it?
Couple that with bogus government employment numbers (that count part time workers as part of the fully employed working class – and also ignoring people who have been out of work for a period of time) – phony inflation numbers (not measuring food and energy price fluctuations- who doesn’t need those two things)
So where do we focus next? In the UK 35% of the people have NO SAVINGS!! 13% have savings less than 1,500 pounds. if you fail to look closely you may be fooled by figures that suggest most UK household savings are UP – that is true to an extent – those increases are weighted by the values of peoples pensions that are mimicking the (up until the last quarter of 2015) meteoric rise of global equity prices…you do not need a Ph.D to understand that the bottom is soon to appearing on this market fiasco…
With all of that being said – until there is a legitimate resent of finance and economic policy globally Bermuda will NEVER be seeing the arrivals we did during the prime years. Secondly it is soon coming that cruise ship arrivals will be trending drastically downward as well. If you listen to the industry and believe their forecasts the world in their eyes is a very rosy place indeed – their projections look to me like the classic bubble inflating propaganda…I will be shorting these stocks myself…and if the BTA were a trade-able entity I would have offloaded my position in them long ago – if I was foolish enough to take a position with them in the first place.
Our Tourism industry is in need of a total revamp. Let’s be real Bermuda.
wow why don’t you ask what the cost to you the taxpayer is per visitor today versus 10 years ago.I am not sure but willing to bet we are paying less , but more importantly we are moving in the right direction.15 years of doing nothing but throwing money away takes some time to turn around . It would be better for you to get involved instead of spouting off ….only because you can …and have a computer
Kevin, your analogy makes no sense! BTA is throwing money in every direction trying to find their way the same as BDoT did 15 years ago. You might want look at where BTA is throwing money and compare it to the statistics which proves BTA is off course.
Is throwing a kind way of saying wasting.
Complainers…what are you doing to help turn the tourism economy around? Really…bunch of moaners who are expert at pointing out everything that is wrong but offer no real solutions. More doom and gloom…and by the way, I’m spending my hard earned money to reinvest in my property and renovate to add beds to our tourism product. I believe in our product and believe in the BTA. Maybe you should try effecting positive change instead your negative nancy tactics to bring everyone down. Be miserable if you want…you will get left behind!