Bermuda recorded the lowest number of air visitors in 30 years last year, but had one of the best years ever for cruise ship visitors. Cruise arrivals accounted for 60 percent of Bermuda's visitors in 2010, Minister of Tourism Patrice Minors revealed yesterday.She announced that air arrivals fell 1.5 percent compared to 2009, which had previously been the worst year on record. In total, 232,262 people flew to the Island in 2010. Sixty-one percent of them came on holiday; others were on business or to visit friends and family.The 2010 figure was:l 53 percent lower than the number of air arrivals in 1980.l 47 percent lower than the 1990 figure.l 30 percent lower than the 2000 figure.Ms Minors said despite the drop in air arrivals Bermuda's peak season, May to August, had improved compared to 2009.“However September did not fare as well, declining 14 percent as the Island was hit by a number of tropical systems, most notably Hurricane Igor,” she said.“Hurricane Igor impacted flights and reservations and ultimately affected visitor arrivals.”Four thousand fewer people flew to the Island in September 2010 compared to 2009. It was the third lowest September arrivals figure in ten years.She added: “While air visitation may have been down in 2010, these visitors stayed longer on Island.“The average length of stay for the year increased to 6.21 nights up from 6.09 nights in 2009.”In 2010, the Bermuda Hotel Association reported it had an overall occupancy level of 54 percent.Only 2001 and 2009 saw lower occupancy levels at hotels this decade.Mrs Minors said cruise arrivals accounted for the majority of visitors on the Island last year.In total 585,266 people visited Bermuda, this is the one of the highest arrivals figures in the Island's history. Only five other years surpass the total arrival figure.Cruise and yachts brought 353,009 of those visitors, accounting for 60 percent of total visitors.“Cruise arrivals to the island increased for the year to the tune of just over nine percent,” she said “This is a direct result of the additional 14 cruise ship calls for the period. In 2011 cruise arrivals are projected to continue to rise.”The number of people arriving by cruise this year was the second highest figure in 30 years.Thirty years ago 99,602 people came to Bermuda by cruise. Since the Progressive Labour Party came to power the number of cruise visitors to the Island has nearly doubled, increasing from 188,331 visitors in 1998.Industry experts have frequently commented that cruise visitors do not spend as much money on the Island as tourists who fly here.Mrs Minors said she is remaining positive for 2011. January's air arrivals were a five percent improvement on last year's.However, earlier this week Bermuda Hotel Association spokesman John Harvey said hotels had seen a lower occupancy over the winter months.Yesterday Mrs Minors did not address January's hotel occupancy level but said: “I can report that hotel bookings for the second quarter of this year look promising, with an increase in group business expected to boost our occupancy levels.She added: “I am excited about the future of Bermuda tourism. We are being aggressive with our promotions and marketing efforts and we are keen to ensure that there is a great buzz about Bermuda.”