Visitor arrivals for the second quarter of this year dropped by more than 12 percent compared to last year, according to the latest statistics.A total of 210,964 visitors came to Bermuda in April, May and June, compared to 240,538 who visited the Island in the same three months last year, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell revealed at a press conference this afternoon.The figures follow a four percent decline in the total number of visitors in the first quarter of the year and bring total arrivals for the year to date to 244,220, compared to 275,109 in the first six months of 2012.While air arrivals in the second quarter were similar to last year’s figure — 75,013 air passengers flew into Bermuda in the second three months of 2013 compared to 75,186 in 2012 — cruise and yacht arrivals fell significantly.Cruise passenger arrivals were down by more than 27,000 or 17 percent, from 161,351 in the second quarter of 2012 to 133,676 in the second three months of this year.And yacht arrivals were down by a massive 43 percent, from 4,001 in 2012 to 2,275 in 2013.Mr Crockwell said that a significant decrease in the number of cruise ships calling on the Island was responsible for the decline in both cruise visitors and the overall drop in total numbers — with liners making 22 fewer visits in the second quarter of this year than last year.“We knew going into the second quarter that there would be 15 less cruise calls scheduled as compared to the same period in 2012,” he said.“However, this decline was exacerbated by the cancellation of four further calls due to the cancellation of the Emerald Princess prior to the completion of the Heritage Wharf repairs, and three cancellations due to a fire on the Grandeur of the Seas. The quarter thus ended with 133,676 people cruising here, representing a decline of 17 percent.”The Minister added that yacht arrivals were down on last year because the biennial Newport to Bermuda race was not held this year.While May and June air arrivals increased on 2012, a 17 percent drop in April’s total meant that overall figure for the three months was down by 0.23 percent.Reduced air service by Air Canada saw a drop in visitors from that market, while the UK and Europe saw an eight percent increase in air passengers, arrivals from the rest of the world fell by 11 percent “partly because the increased arrivals from the Caribbean in April of 2012 due to the Carifta Games”, the spokesman said.Business and Convention business which had declined in the first quarter however rebounded in the second quarter with increases of 14 percent and 27 percent respectively. All other categories of visitation however showed declines with vacationers down two percent, those visiting friends and relatives down eight percent, and all other reasons down 34 percent.But on a positive note, the length of time visitors spent on the Island increased from 5.82 nights in 2012 to 7.61 nights in the second quarter of 2013. Visitors staying in commercial accommodations also increased with an average night stay of 6.42 nights, up from 4.73 nights in the previous year.“As we continue our efforts through the third quarter, we are particularly heartened by the reports we are receiving from our hotel partners,” Mr Crockwell added.“The pacing of Bermuda Hotel Association members reveals solid bookings that commenced in May and have continued through August. So far in the peak months of May, June and July, which is where it counts, we have welcomed over 5,000 more air visitors, a six percent increase over the same period in 2012.“Looking ahead to the Fall, we are receiving some encouraging reports of partners who are seeing demand for rooms straight through October, except the traditionally soft period in September after Labor Day in the United States.”Mr Crockwell also stressed the importance of setting up a Tourism Authority to drive visitor numbers up and remained “a number one priority”.“I have stated on record that we need an entity which would ensure that tourism is in the hands of industry experts who can drive this critical industry with as much independence and autonomy as possible,” he said.“We are making progress on this front, and I am pleased to confirm that we are very close to making this vision a reality. We cannot simply continue with business as usual. This Government will create a paradigm shift in this industry which I believe will be paramount to its revitalisation.”