Bermuda Reports Sharp Increase in First-Quarter Air Arrivals

Bermuda Reports Sharp Increase in First-Quarter Air Arrivals

Visitor arrivals by airline grew nearly 8 percent in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period in 2010, according to Patrice K. Minors, Bermuda’s minister of business development and tourism. First-quarter 2011 air arrivals totaled 30,824, compared with 28,865 air visitors in the first quarter of 2010. Also, arrivals increased during each month in the quarter -- January achieved a 5.5 percent increase, February increased by 2.7 percent, and March increased by 9.9 percent.

Canada recorded the largest growth by region, with a 50 percent increase that Minors attributed to additional airlift supplied by WestJet. Canada generated 6,469 air arrivals in the first quarter of 2011, compared with 4,314 in 2011. First-quarter arrivals from the United States grew by 2.7 percent with 19,705 visitors in 2011, as compared to 19,181 in 2010. The U.S. Northeast continued to generate the majority of visitors, although arrivals from southern states including Florida (up 8.6 percent).

Minors said Bermuda will receive additional airlift in the second quarter of 2011, with new AirTran service from Baltimore and Atlanta launching in May. “Advanced booking projections of [Bermuda’s] 10 largest hotels that make up more than 75 percent of room inventory [show] bookings in March increased by more than 20 percent over 2010 and April’s performance will be up by more than 20 percent,” said Minors. “Our hotels [report] May and June already have 10 percent more business on the books. July and August have 30 percent and 55 percent more room nights booked than at the same period one year ago.”

Bermuda’s Department of Tourism recently extended its “Compliments of Bermuda” promotion, offering travelers who book a three-night stay in May a fourth night free, with a fifth night free to guests who book a four-night stay. The promotion is available at more than a dozen Bermuda hotel properties and is available for booking through May 30 for travel through June 30, 2011.