Premier Ewart Brown said the Department of Tourism is dedicated to stimulating business in the industry.

Last week the Government revealed visitors who flew to the Island spent $28 million less between April and June this year compared to 2008. And hotels saw their revenue plummet 29 percent compared to last year, earning $69 million less. At the time The Royal Gazette reached out to the Premier's Secretary Glenn Jones for a comment about the poor tourism figures and had no reply. Having received no response from the Press Secretary, we reported that the Premier had failed to reply.

Yesterday Mr. Jones sent the Premier's reply, dated Sunday September 13. "During the worst international financial downturn in a generation it stands to reason that visitor spending would decline," Dr. Brown said. "In fact, even if 2009 year-to-date arrival statistics were equal to 2008, the spending figures would still be off last year's pace because a Bermuda vacation costs less this year than it did last year.

"Of course the Ministry does not set the price of a Bermuda vacation, but we support our industry partners who are pricing aggressively to lure visitors and soften the impact of the global financial situation. Just about everywhere 2009 will be a disappointing revenue year for the tourism industry, but we continue as dedicatedly as ever to stimulate business for the second pillar of our economy."

Are you a tourism vendor who has had revenues drop? How has this summer been for you? Contact roklynch@royalgazette.bm