Spending by visitors to Bermuda rose by $17 million in September and October, according to new statistics.

The tourism industry saw a 34 percent revenue boost from visitor spending last fall when compared to the previous year, according to new survey data.

The Department of Tourism said a new survey, a full copy of which has not been released, estimated that overall visitor expenditure rose to between approximately "$66.8 million and $81.0 million — a sharp increase over the same period in the fall of 2006 when the estimated expenditures number was between $49.8 million and $59.7 million".

The Department also said that the 2007 Fall saw the highest expenditure in four years.

Premier Ewart Brown, who is also the Minister of Tourism, said: "We have a $17 million increase in tourism spending for last fall — and that's at the low end of the estimate. The real increase is probably more than $17 million.

"Not long ago many thought the tourism earning season was over when the summer months ended, but these stats show us that visitors are spending in a big way during the golf and spa season. This is very encouraging news."

This year surveyed visitors said they spent between $1,349 and $1,634. In 2006 they said they spent between $1,055 and $1,265 during the same period. The number of visitor air arrivals also rose by five percent, or 2,369 people, for the period.

"We are experiencing a higher number of visitors and we are experiencing a greater proportion of high income earners," Dr. Brown said. "Those two critical details are driving up the amount of money we are bringing into the local economy.

"It's a trend that tourism business owners appreciate and it's a trend we hope will continue."

A further breakdown of the statistics reveal business travellers were spending $90 more a day during the fall period compared to 2006 while leisure travellers were spending $56 more a day.

The fall 2007 survey was conducted between September 1 and October 31, 2007.