The Ministry of Tourism will no longer release arrival statistics independently from the Premier's quarterly luncheons.

And the Permanent Secretary said The Royal Gazette received in-depth arrivals figured by accident.

Over the past eight months The Royal Gazette has been receiving monthly in-depth statistics showing arrivals figures of air and cruise ship visitors.

The statistics also reveal the intention of a visitor's trip; to do business, visit family or come for leisure.

Previously such in-depth statistics were not revealed despite repeated attempts to obtain them.

After several attempts to obtain the March, April and May arrivals figures Permanent Secretary Cherrie Whitter has stated that they will now only be released in conjunction with the Premier's quarterly bulletin news conference.

She said: "As it relates to monthly releases I recall that there was a policy in place that provided for media distribution on a quarterly basis following the media luncheon.

"The market research officer indicated that indeed you were accidentally placed on the monthly stakeholder distribution list but he has since removed you."

The Royal Gazette has in fact not received such statistics for several years up until October 2007.

Opposition Leader Kim Swan: " We are not surprised at this latest turn in the government's effort to prevent the public from knowing the truth of a matter.

"The government began shutting down public access to tourism statistics after 2000 when the industry's visitor arrivals fell to historic lows.

"Since then, statistics have been used selectively to spin the image of the industry in the healthiest possible light, even though they did not provide a true picture.

"We have long questioned the way Government manipulates and guards statistics."

Mr. Swan added that it was not productive to withhold the statistics during a period of serious economic uncertainty. He added it was a disservice to local businesses who cater to tourists.

Mr. Swan said: "Numbers don't lie and it is not necessary for people to wait for the Tourism Minister's editorial presentation four times a year — and then only when the Premier is on the island. Indeed, we have been told that this year's first quarter briefing will not happen because of "scheduling difficulties."

"As far as the quarterly reports go, people are given about one-eighth of the information compiled by Tourism statisticians.

"Truth is what the people need, and so we call on the Government not to be afraid but to post in-depth industry statistics regularly. These should be distributed to all local media."

Under the A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign, which calls for public access to information legislation and more government transparency, members of the public and media would be able to obtain such information whenever they wanted to and not have to wait until Government chooses to release the monthly figures.