Shadow tourism minister Jamahl Simmons has said the reported uptick in tourism figures is “little comfort” to those who remain unemployed.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority yesterday announced 2016 as “the best year for Bermuda tourism since 2007” with an increase of 18 per cent spend under a One Bermuda Alliance government.

While Mr Simmons described the news as “encouraging” he claimed that “isn’t translating into new jobs”.

The Progressive Labour Party MP turned attention to his own party’s push for an increased marketing budget and its call for a change from the “nostalgia tourism approach sought by the OBA, BTA chairman and former BTA CEO to win back our traditional visitor, to one that embraced a younger, more diverse and more cosmopolitan audience.”

He suggested the government extend its focus to markets such as Montreal, Toronto and Atlanta while working to reduce airfares.

“Finally,” he said “we must put as equal a focus on tourism job creation for Bermudians as is placed on arrival numbers.”