Bermuda received more visitors last year than in 2001 - but still far fewer than in previous years according to the latest statistics.

Figures released by Government's Department of Information Services show that, for the first 11 months of 2002, a total of 471,635 visitors arrived on the Island - approximately 20,000 more than in the whole 12 months of 2001. Of that number, 271,570 visitors arrived by air while cruise ships brought in an additional 200,065 visitors.

The total number of visitors for 2002 will not be known until data for the month of December has been compiled.

Although up on 2001 figures - which was one of the worst years on record for visitor arrivals - 2002 figures compared less favourably with previous years. In 2000 the Island received 543,126 visitors, with similar figures being recorded in 1999 and 1998.

For the month of November visitor arrivals were up 5.9 percent in 2002 compared to the same time in 2001.

While the average length of stay during November 2002 was five days, the report indicated Europeans remained on the Island longer with an average stay of seven days.

In a poll of 102 departing visitors polled last November, 62 percent said weather conditions and personal safety were the two most important factors they considered when they chose their vacation destination.

In contrast, while only ten percent said that shopping was an important factor, shopping was cited as the most popular activity undertaken.

And a somewhat conflicting statistic revealed that while the second most popular tourist activity in November was going to the beach (77 percent), only an average of 49 percent of tourists actually went swimming.

While the Island's hotels and guest houses were given good grades for their cleanliness (74 percent of visitors said they were completely satisfied), only 17 percent of tourists were satisfied with night time activities offered by the establishments.

The town of St. George's was rated the most popular tourist attraction, with 80 percent of our European visitors favouring the East End locale compared to 61 percent of their American counterparts.