Tourist figures were up ten percent in July over last year but low spending cruise arrivals helped boost the numbers.

Strong cruise arrival figures - up by 19.2 percent for the month - helped increase the total year to date into positive territory for the first time this year.

Air arrivals, the traditional leader in visits, were second best in overall numbers for the month, said a tourism department Press release.

Hotel occupancy fell by three percent to 77.1 percent compared with 80.1 percent in July last year and the average stay in commercial properties declined significantly from 7.4 percent last year to 4.7 this year.

Total bed nights also declined from 307,947 last year to 212,629 this July.

Although continuing the trend set in June, the fractional increase in air passengers was outpaced by cruise passengers.

During July 2003 there were 7,618 more cruise passengers than air passengers.

A spokesperson said: “Granted cruise passengers typically contribute less to the economy of the island, it remains clear this component is a vital cog in the composition of the tourism industry.

“Significant was the impact the increased volume of passengers made on the merchants and tour operators who rely so heavily on the cruise industry for their bread and butter.

“It should also be stated these cruise passengers would have indirectly contributed over $2.6 million in head tax alone for July.”

Core air markets of the north eastern United States had significant percentage gains over the same period last year.

Those travelling from homes in the Mid-Atlantic north and south, and the north east had a cumulative 12.8 percent increase in air arrivals over their 2002 totals.

Canadian visitors were up on July 2002 by 15.4 percent, American visitors slightly down by 0.8 percent and European visitors up by 18.3 percent.

This upsurge helped to narrow the gap left by previous months by all air arrivals to only 4.2 percent, or a deficit of a mere 7,267 in air travellers to the island said the Tourism Press release.

This figure has been offset by the 10,279 increase of cruise arrivals year over year.

The net total of all visitors crept across the break-even point for the first time in 2003.

A Tourism spokesperson said: “Although the gain is minimal it is the positive movement that is encouraging.

“The overall deficit has been whittled away over the past three months, and July has brought a sense of accomplishment for the initiatives that have been instituted by the Department of Tourism in the industry.

“Positive feedback from the market research carried out on the re-branding of Bermuda is translating into the island being back on the map of people with overseas travel plans.

“This has filtered out into the different sectors of the industry, and the revitalisation of Bermuda is starting to pay dividends.”

July has brought the conclusion of the booking window for the highly successful “Companion Flies Free” programme, which has seen over 11,000 guests take advantage of this initiative for the entire year.

The Department of Tourism, along with its partners also hosted the highly successful third Annual Big Game Fishing Classic in July, which garnered rave reviews from all those who participated, said the spokesperson.

With similar events, such as the signature Jazz Festival, The World Rugby Classic, The Culinary Arts Festival, and The Investors Guarantee Gold Cup on the horizon, event driven tourism will be the highlight of the coming months said the department.