While the number of cruise ship visitors have remained the same since last year, shopkeepers say their profits are not increasing. And Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown warned things could get worse.

Dr. Brown unveiled the tourist arrival statistics at a press conference last Wednesday and said that cruise ship arrivals had dipped by one percent to 129,343.

He added: "As our new cruise ship policy takes hold the industry should be prepared for lower cruise arrival numbers because fewer ships are scheduled to come to our shores this year and in the near future.

"We have opted instead to attract itineraries that bring ships to stay longer, paving the way for cruise visitors to spend more days in Bermuda, and as a result, spend more money in Bermuda.

"Overall, the second quarter was rather inconsistent. Arrivals in April were up almost 27 percent, while arrivals in May were down 23 percent, and in June the end result was about even with a two-and-a-half percent dip."

Chamber of Commerce retail spokesman Sommers Cooper said many in the retail industry are worried for the coming quarters. With the ships being moved to Dockyard, Hamilton stores are hurting, he said.

"We just don't see people stopping in often," he said. "The may visit the city once, but that is it. And the Dockyard stores aren't necessarily seeing an increase now that the ships are there.

"The shopping experience in Dockyard is different, people may just visit the mall once on their stay in Bermuda. Whereas they would walk along Front Street often.

"The ships may be staying longer but the visitors aren't spending more, at least not in retail.

"With the current economy I think most shopkeepers are worried."