The Bermuda Tourism Authority remains cautiously optimistic about prospects for the next 12 months despite seeing its budget cut by $1.4 million.

At $21.7 million, the proposed budget for tourism in 2015-16 is the lowest in more than 30 years.

But the authority’s CEO, Bill Hanbury, said his team was upbeat and determined to improve the taxpayer’s return on investment by growing the industry.

“The figure for 2015-16 is also half what the government allocated to tourism in 2007, during a period when visitor arrivals peaked,” said Mr Hanbury. “Of course, like any other publicly funded entity in the same situation, the BTA wishes it had a larger budget to invest in the tourism economy, especially as the Finance Minister highlighted our industry as the economic engine poised for growth.

“Above all else though, we understand the financial restraints Government faces.

“Once the budget is passed in Parliament, our focus remains: improving taxpayers’ return on investment by growing the tourism economy. Our rally cry is investment and growth.

“A budget of this size will only stretch so far, but our bottom line is about improving the return on investment on our taxpayer allocation, spending less to generate smarter results and growth in the overall tourism economy.

“This was true before the presentation of the Budget and it’s true afterward as well.”

The 2014 tourism budget of $23.1 million generated $280 million in air visitor spending and contributed to Government tax coffers and tourism industry businesses.

Mr Hanbury said the BTA would work to boost air arrivals to Bermuda, increase the amount air and cruise visitors spent on the Island, and attract new off-island investment.

“One of the BTA’s untold successes is the manner in which it is efficiently managing taxpayers’ money while simultaneously raising the level of performance,” he added.

“For the recent Pink Sale, an online marketing promotion, the BTA spent the exact same amount that was spent by the Department of Tourism in 2014, but got far better results.

“Confirmed hotel bookings were up 45 per cent and room nights up 24 per cent.

“The estimated economic impact for the country is an increase of $813,000. Perhaps most importantly, the return on investment was 16:1. We can and will replicate this performance throughout our marketing efforts and beyond.

“Meantime, the days of first-class travel, limousines and expensive hotel suites were over for Bermuda tourism officials the moment the BTA moved in.

“The days of paying outlandish fees to multiple PR firms and ad agencies with little results for it are also over.

“Now, all the investments are towards supporting and marketing what is truly Bermudian — its people, its culture and its heritage.”