Visitor arrivals were up by nearly nine percent for the first quarter of 2012, according to statistics released by the Department of Tourism last night.A total of 34,571 people visited the Island from January to the end of March this year, up from 31,779 for the corresponding period in 2011.The vast majority came by plane, with 31,619 air arrivals, a 2.6 percent increase on the 30,824 who flew to Bermuda in the first three months of last year.Figures were further boosted by cruise ship visitors going up from 675 to 2,719 as a result of an additional two ships in March, a period which traditionally has few cruises.Yacht arrivals fell 17 percent, from 280 to 233, although the Tourism press release states that figure should improve when the Island hosts the biannual Newport Bermuda race in June.The average length of stay for each air visitor decreased from 6.23 nights to 5.92, with those staying in commercial hotels dropping from 4.96 nights to 4.73 nights.A breakdown by age shows a large increase in visitors below the age of 19 was chiefly responsible for the rise in air arrivals.Air arrivals among that age group went up from 1,913 to 2,407, an increase of 26 percent, while over 59s went up five percent from 7,050 to 7,403. The age bracket between 20 and 59 remained largely unchanged.The number of women flying to the Island rose by 5.96 percent, while the number of men dropped by 0.12 percent.The Canadian region has increased its share of the market by two percentage points to 23 percent, although the United States remains the strongest market at 63 percent.More than half the air visitors said their trip was for a vacation, representing a 12 percent increase from 14,994 to 16,854. Those visiting for business or convention purposes dropped from 11,131 to 9,992.Air arrivals enjoyed their biggest increase in February, which went up 3.9 percent. January and March saw increases of 1.9 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.