struggled in March.

Air arrivals, bed nights and length of stay all declined compared to the same month a year ago, Tourism said.

For the year to March 31, air arrivals were down 2.1 percent to 55,346 from 56,521.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell was quick to point out that the first three months, and especially January and February, are the quietest for arrivals.

Although the 2.1 percent decline is "clearly disappointing,'' it represents only about 1,200 people and one "reasonably strong'' month could move the total ahead of last year's figure, he said.

"It is difficult to pinpoint why it is off two percent. It could be because the weather was warmer on the eastern seaboard of the US,'' he said.

In March, 27,140 visitors jetted to Bermuda compared to 29,461 in the same month last year -- a 7.9 percent decline.

Europeans, because they stayed longer, spent the most money, an average of $1,514. Canadians and Americans spent on average $1,273 and $1,245 respectively.

March bed nights dropped to 170,399 from 190,001, a 10.9 percent fall.

The bulk of this decline was felt at Bermuda's large hotels where the number slid by about 17,000 to 75,695 from 92,717. On average, an air visitor in March stayed 6.3 days, a 0.2 percent drop.

The Bermuda Hotels Association said if hotel occupancy rates in the coming months are to equal last year's, hoteliers will have to pin their hopes on late bookings.

The BHA yesterday said March's final hotel occupancy rate declined to 49 percent from 55.8 percent in March, 1996, the BHA said.

The most recent full month percentage was well below the 59.6 percent occupancy rate recorded in March of 1995.

The BHA also released April, May and June projections.

April will be similar to last year's 61.4 percent while May appears poised to improve.

May's occupancy rate should rise to 66 percent from 61.7 percent last year, the BHA said.

But June will be "disappointing'' compared to June 1996, the association predicted.

June occupancy numbers are currently disappointing at 45 percent compared to 52.7 percent in 1996, the BHA said.