according to Government third quarter figures.

This year numbers of air passengers fell by seven percent for the third consecutive quarter, from 116,731 to 108,601.

But the number of cruise passengers were up 5.9 percent from 91,721 last year to 97,137 this year.

Overall, with combined figures from air and cruise passengers, there were 2,714 fewer tourists than last year in the same quarter.

The Government has blamed the fall in air numbers on the threat of Hurricane Gert which kept tourists away both by plane and in cruise ships which were diverted.

Spending by air passengers fell by 5.2 percent from $152.3 million last year to $144.4 million this year, but spending by cruise ship passengers increased by 8.7 percent from $20.7 million to $22.5 million. According to figures released yesterday in the Bermuda Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics, it shows a steady decline in numbers of air visitors since 1996.

In the first three quarters of 1996 there were 313,598 visitors by plane, while the steady decline has seen the numbers drop by over 30,000, from 313,598 to 281,108.

There were a total of 281,108 visitors to the Island during the first three quarters of the year, compared to 291,021 last year.

"The threat of Hurricane Gert impacted significantly on the number of visitors that arrived during the latter part of the quarter,'' said the report.

"The Bermuda International Airport was forced to shut down completely for one day, cancelling all scheduled flights.'' The biggest fall came in the number of tourists travelling from Canada, which dropped by 14.4 percent.

The total number of visitors from the United Kingdom and the United States fell respectively 9.8 percent and 6.5 percent.

The dip in the number of visitors was also reflected in the lower occupancy levels recorded by the major types of accommodation for tourists.

Resort hotels were down 7.7 percent, small hotels, cottage colonies and clubs down 11.3 percent and self catering down by 8.2 percent.

In contrast smaller guest house units were up on 1998.

The total spent by the tourists arriving on the Island was also down, by 5.2 percent.

This year visitors spent $144.4 million.

The report stated: "The fall in spending levels resulted primarily from the overall decline in visor arrivals.

"Per capita expenditures on meals, entertainment, transportation, sporting activities and accommodation exceeded the levels reached in the third quarter of 1998.'' In contrast, the number of visitors arriving by cruise ships went up by 5.9 percent to 97,137 in the same three quarters.

"The higher volume of cruise passengers was softened by the non-arrival of three cruise ships during the month of September.

The threat of Hurricane Gert forced these ships to pass the strong winds and surf surge that buffeted the Island's coastline,'' said the report.

Quarterly spending by cruise passengers in the third quarter was estimated at $22.5 million, which is up some 8.7 percent year-over-year.

CHART Spiralling decline: The number of tourists arriving by air in Bermuda has dropped dramatically in the last four years. The latest Government figures for the third quarter of 1999, show that numbers arriving by plane have dropped from 124,575 in 1996 to 108,601 this year.

TOURISM TOU BUSINESS BUC