A three percent decrease in visitor arrivals was recorded by Government in May.

Last May saw 64,261 visitors travelling to Bermuda by air and by sea compared with 62,422 who journeyed to the Island this year.

"While arrivals declined in May, the news was not altogether discouraging,'' said a spokesperson. "Air arrivals fell by one percent to 44,756, but arrivals from the United States increased by two percent to 55,372. Cruise arrivals, however, fell by nearly six percent to 17,566.'' The spokesperson added year-to-date arrivals had fallen by three percent, to 156,268, when compared with 161,273 in 1991.

Tourism director Mr. Gary Phillips said fewer visits by cruise ships was one factor as only 18 visits were paid to the Island this May as compared with 20 the previous year.

"We may have had an occasional caller like the QE2 last year which didn't come during the same period this year,'' he said.

Totals for both months show a sharp contrast with visitor figures of 1987, a boom year for the tourism industry. During May of 1987, 81,660 passengers travelled by air to Bermuda and 26,323 by sea. And at that point in the year, 228,271 persons had called to the Island.