The Bermuda Tourism Authority came under fire for declining air arrivals as the House of Assembly debated the body’s budget on Friday night.

Reading the brief on behalf of tourism minister Shawn Crockwell, who was absent owing to illness, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the Bermuda Tourism Authority had built new agency relationships for public relations, advertising and group marketing, focusing on experiential travel experiences.

The minister acknowledged that tourism spending had reached its lowest point in 30 years while our Caribbean competitors had begun to bounce back, but said Bermuda was being placed in a position to recover.

She added that the BTA had played a key role in securing the island as the host of the 2017 America’s Cup, progressing the St George’s hotel project and efforts to increase air lift to the island.

Ms Gordon-Pamplin also noted that the BTA has been working to bring more cruise ships to St George’s, stating that five additional visits have been scheduled for this year.

Moving forward, she said the BTA will continue to invest in potential tourism experiences, such as “pop up” amenities at Mangrove Bay and Clearwater Beach, support artistic and cultural products and build the Bermudian brand.

However shadow tourism minster Jamahl Simmons noted the falling air arrivals and increasing tourism related fees, saying that someone in government or the BTA leadership needs to be held accountable for the poor results.

“We keep hearing that it’s coming,” he said.

“The jobs are coming, the turn around is coming. I don’t hold any issue with the workers of the BTA trying to turn things around because it’s a monumental task, but we have recently increased the cost to come to Bermuda. We have made it more expensive to come to Bermuda.”

He also took issue with a BTA statement earlier in the day criticising the immigration protests, saying: “Many of them are not working.

“They are not seeing the turnaround, and they know we are seeing a 49 year low in air arrivals.

“I don’t think the BTA understands the anxiety of the people.”

Ms Gordon-Pamplin, however, defended the work of the BTA, noting the creation of tourism construction jobs for the Hamilton Princess redevelopment, the development of the new Pink Beach Club, continuing work at the Coral Beach Club and coming St George’s hotel project.