visitor numbers continuing to fall.

Air arrivals from all North American markets fell in January compared to the same period last year.

It follows last year's overall figures which saw the lowest arrivals by aircraft for 20 years.

According to the Bermuda Department of Tourism monthly figures the total number of visitors fell 2.97 percent to 10,294 in January of this year.

The largest decreases compared to January 1999 were from the US, down 10.62 percent to 6,675 people and Canada, down 8.96 percent to 1,413. Numbers from the UK also dropped, down 3.77 percent to 1,020.

A bright spot was the increase in bednights sold, up 1,100 to 74,628 for the month. And the average length of stay increased from 6.9 night to 7.2 nights.

And visitors from Europe and the rest of the world increased in January, up 165.17 percent or 533 people, and up 99.09 percent or 653 people, respectively.

Every US region saw a drop in visitors to Bermuda during January, overall down from 7,468 to 6,675.

In the mid-Atlantic states, numbers fell from 3,071 to 2,789 (9.18 percent).

The north east saw visitors decrease from 1,694 to 1,517 (10.45 percent).

And the south east region fell by 6.4 percent, from 1,527 to 1,429 people.

In bednights, large hotels, small hotels and cottage colonies lost most ground, with falls of one percent, ten percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Housekeeping cottages, guest houses and accommodations of 12 beds or less, fared better, showing increases of 30 percent, 22 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

Airlines ran at a load factor of 57 percent for January, carrying nearly 20,000 passengers.