Springtime arrivals from cruise ships were up ten percent on the previous year’s figures, but air arrivals in the second quarter dropped by 2.5 percent, with a total of 73,122 visitors coming through LF Wade International Airport.

The figures, released from the Department of Statistics, also revealed a modest increase in retail sales, up 1.8 percent, with motor vehicles showing a sharp increase of 27 percent over 2013’s sales.

Last year Government allowed liquor sales on Sundays, which may have had an impact on the latest figures with liquor stores taking in 10.5 percent more during the period of April through June.

The drop in air arrivals was reflected in a decline of air arrival expenditure, down $12 million to $91 million. The average spending per air visitor also fell from $1,338 to $1,210, which in turn led to a 12.2 percent drop in spending on food and accommodation, and a 9.7 percent drop in goods and services such as recreation and transport.

Cruise ship passengers spent $32 million during the three-month period — a rise of $3.3 million.

Hotel takings shrank 2.4 percent to $77.7 million, and hotel employment also contracted, by three percent. At the end of April, there were 2,301 people employed in the hotel industry, which was 41 fewer than 2013.

Residents coming back from overseas declared purchases of $14.3 million, which was a decline of 6.6 percent on the previous year.