The Bermuda Tourism Authority issued a progress report on its corporate objectives after Parliament’s discussion of its incentive programme.

Kenneth Bascome, Junior Minister of Tourism, informed legislators during Friday’s session that every member of the authority, including chief executive Bill Hanbury, would have their performance judged against distinct criteria linked to growing local tourism.

David Dodwell, chairman of the BTA, said the organisation had “brought the Bermuda tourism economy back from the brink of disaster”.

While Mr Dodwell stressed that a year-end conclusion for 2016 could not be made with the summer travel season still ahead, he pointed to some early successes.

Air arrivals in the first quarter rose 14 per cent on last year, and were up 9 per cent through May 31, while 15 extra cruise calls were scheduled for Hamilton and St George’s next year over 2016. Room nights booked as a direct result of BTA marketing had risen 45 per cent this year to date, Mr Dodwell added.

Performance incentives must be met at the end of this year before any performance incentives will be paid, with a decision made in the first half of 2017, he said.