The number of visitors to the Island dropped by more than seven percent in the third quarter of the year.

But Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell pointed out that the decline was the result of fewer cruise ships calling on Bermuda compared to the same three-month period last year — while “crucial” air arrivals “soared”.

At a press conference this morning, Mr Crockwell revealed that a total of 240,348 visitors came to Bermuda in July, August and September — almost 20,000 less than the same three months last year when 260,129 visitors arrived.

There were 157,373 cruise visitors — down 12.1 percent on last year when 179,124 cruise passengers vacationed on the Island.

But visitors to the island by air increased by 2.4 percent, from 80,852 in 2012 to 82,819 this year.

While visitors from the US remained flat, the UK and the rest of the world markets saw significant gains, rising by 20 percent and 49 percent respectively. Arrivals from Canada did drop by 12 percent, caused in part by a reduction in service according to Mr Crockwell.

“On a positive note, Air Canada has already added two additional flights for the winter months, with a further increase scheduled for summer 2014, and it is anticipated that this will once again boost visitors from the Canadian market,” Mr Crockwell said.

The Minister added that New York continued to be an essential and growing market, with the number of air passengers from that state increasing by 13 percent on last year.

“The strategic addition of Delta service out of LaGuardia has spurred this growth,” Mr Crockwell said.

“The decision to allocate our promotional dollars in the all-important northeast market continues to pay dividends.”

Mr Crockwell said that the drop in cruise passenger arrivals had been “expected”.

“With 20 less cruise calls on the books compared to the third quarter of 2012, cruise visitation declined by 12 percent year over year,” he said.

The number of yachtsmen who sailed to Bermuda in the period rose by three percent to 156.

Mr Crockwell said hotel bookings in the next six months showed “positive signs”.

“if 2013 concludes at the current pace, the hotels anticipate that they will finish with a one percent increase over last year in room nights achieved,” he said.

The Minister also pointed out that the presentation of visitor arrival statistics will in future be delivered by Tourism Authority chairman David Dodwell or the organisation’s yet-to-be appointed CEO. The authority will take over the management of the tourism industry from Government once it is up and running within the next four months.

“Fully aligned to the National Tourism Plan, this now sets the road map for increasing jobs and opportunity in the tourism industry,” Mr Crockwell said.

“I am especially pleased with the progress of the transition, and expect to be announcing a brand new board of directors in the very near future.

“I remain absolutely committed to a very successful transition to the new Tourism Authority. There is still much work to be done, but we continue to be on track with the full transition by March 31, 2014.

“I would like to thank Chairman Dodwell and his team for the tremendous hard work being put in to make the authority a reality.”