The number of people working in the tourism industry fell by more than ten percent last year, the latest Government figures have revealed.

A total of 460 jobs were lost in the industry in 2013, leaving 5,224 people employed in tourism, both direct and indirectly.

There were 3,553 employees directly involved in tourism, with a further 1,671 were indirectly employed — for example suppliers of hotel toiletries and entertainers.

The news came as statistics showed that the $289-plus million contributed to the Island remained close to static and made up 5.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Tourism contributed $208 million (23.3 percent) to the 2013 current account revenue.

Visitors spent a total of $412 million on goods and service while on the Island in 2013 — down $3 million on the previous year — while Bermuda residents spent $322 million on travel overseas, a $5 million drop on 2012.

The Government statistics report said: “The total level of spending by air, yacht and cruise visitors, including crew members, fell by $3 million when compared to spending levels recorded in 2012.

“Visitor outlays on accommodation services decreased by $8 million. Spending on passenger transport services such as airlines fell $3 million, while food and beverage expenditure declined $2 million.”

But the report added: “In contrast, expenditure on recreation and other entertainment services increased $2 million.”

Wages for those involved in tourism in 2013 totalled $415 million — $18 million below the level seen in 2012.

Of the total, $236 million (57 percent) went to those directly employed in tourism.

Despite the job losses, tourism amounts to nearly 10.5 percent of the total Island workforce — the third largest employer of Bermudian workers after Government and public administration and the wholesale and retail trade.

Nearly three quarters (74.6 percent) of employees in tourism in 2013 were Bermudian — although that was a 9.2 percent drop compared to 2012.

Government spent $30 million on promoting tourism last year, down $4 million (18.7 percent) on the previous year and included cuts in tourism promotion, marketing and related professional services.

The Government report said: “This expenditure accounted for 57.6 percent of total Government outlays on tourism in 2013.

“Among other tourism-related spending categories, expenditure on contributions to exhibitions and hospitality increased.”

The report also showed tourism just one step away from the anchor position in Bermuda’s league table of sectors — just above transport and communications in 2013, the same as the previous year.

At the top of the table was international business, followed by real estate and rentals, with banking and related businesses in third place.