vacations on the Island.

Traditionally, "length of stay'' has been regarded as a crucial factor in the amount of cash visitors spend.

In the first half of 1992, the average US visitor stayed half a night longer than in the first half of this year.

So far this year, the average American tourist stayed in Bermuda only 5.5 nights, compared to six nights in the first six months of 1992.

The length of stay for Canadian visitors dropped even further, from 9 nights to 8.3. And the figure for British tourists dropped from 12.6 to 11.8.

However, Tourism's marketing director Mr. Peter Smith said yesterday that the statistics were no surprise.

"It's something you have to understand is happening and adjust your effort to doing your best to accommodate it. It's a universal phenomenon.'' Bermuda's average length of stay had dropped less than some people had expected, and was still "good''.

"Regrettably all of the retail advertising, that talks prices and things, is all built around three-night stays. The trend is for shorter, quicker getaways.

"One of Bermuda's main selling points is that it's only two hours from the East coast.

"It's impossible to avoid playing into the quick getaway.'' While the trend for shorter breaks could be capitalised on, it was in Bermuda's interest to encourage longer stays. That effort was continuing.

Mr. Smith added that although shorter stays meant less money spent on hotel rooms, he was not so sure about the effect on spending in shops.

"In terms of the amount of money they spend in the stores, it's debatable,'' he said.