Recently released tourism statistics showed a “stagnant and declining industry”, the Free Democratic Movement claimed today.

The party said in a statement that while the figures published this week highlighted a 9.6 per cent year-on-year increase in air visitors and higher visitor spending, the air arrival numbers fell short of pre-pandemic levels.

“While arrivals have improved from pandemic-era lows, they remain well below historical levels and even below the numbers recorded when the Bermuda Tourism Authority was founded in 2014,” the FDM said.

“The rising cost of living affects both tourists and Bermudians, making the island an increasingly expensive destination, while also straining local households.

“Higher prices do not equate to a stronger economy and the tourism sector continues to suffer from a lack of real job creation and business opportunities for Bermudians.”

The FDM said the island’s over-reliance on the US East Coast was a “glaring weakness” and that the BTA had failed to expand Bermuda’s visitor base or diversify the island’s tourism product.

“Expanding into new markets beyond the US East Coast is essential to reducing economic vulnerability, while removing regulatory barriers will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation,” the statement continued.

The party proposed replacing the BTA with a privately led stakeholders council to help ensure marketing and innovation initiatives are industry-driven and financially sustainable.

“We will make it easier for local entrepreneurs to conduct business on government-owned land such as Dockyard and other underutilised spaces,” the FDM said.

“This includes simplifying the process for vendors to operate in these areas, extending entertainment hours and increasing the number of vendors allowed in popular tourist locations.

“These measures will enhance the visitor experience while generating sustainable economic opportunities for Bermudians.

“Winning awards in travel magazines does not put food on the table for Bermudians.”

The BTA said in its year-end report, released this week, that the number of hotel beds had proved to be a limiting factor in its efforts to bolster the island’s tourism industry. It noted that the Fairmont Southampton, the island’s largest hotel, had yet to reopen.

The quango also said in the document that it would seek to increase demand from markets outside of the US this year with “strategic content marketing, PR, travel trade partnerships and influencer collaborations” intended to accelerate performance for 2025.

The BTA report noted that of the 203,080 air visitors that came to the island last year, 152,114 — more than three quarters — came from the US.

Britain represented the next highest country of origin, with 18,216 visitors, Canada was third with 16,190 visitors.

Another 5,806 came from Europe, 3,085 from the Caribbean, 1,091 from Asia and 6,578 from other regions.

While the number of visitors from the US, Europe and the Caribbean rose year-on-year, arrivals from other destinations fell.