A US recession appears to be hurting the tourism industry with air arrivals falling five percent in December, 13 percent in January but creeping up 1.76 percent in February compared to the previous year.

Newly released arrival figures show that during the three month period a total of 1,967 fewer visitors flew to the Island compared to the same period in 2007.

The Premier, and Minister of Tourism, Ewart Brown said last night that the economic slowdown has his attention, but added that numbers arriving from countries apart from the US were promising.

Arrivals figures from the Island's core US market dropped 11 percent in December, 17 percent in January and 4.45 percent in February, according to Department of Tourism figures.

In total the period saw the number of visitors from the core US market fall by 2,760 people.

The convention sector appears to be the hardest hit with the figure plummeting 69.5 percent in January, from 1,359 people in 2007 down to 414 in 2008.

February saw 201 fewer people flying in for conventions, a 23.6 percent drop. December was the only month of the period to see an increase with an additional four visitors flying in compared to 2007.

Meanwhile news in the business sector was not much better. Business visitors increased strongly in most months of 2007, offsetting declines in leisure travellers.

Apart from February, which saw a five percent increase in business travellers, December marked a four percent decline and January marked a 9.8 percent decline in business travellers.

Dr. Brown said: "The US economic slowdown obviously has our attention. In an effort to stem that potential tide we are grateful to have the extra airlift out of London. Numbers from the UK are consistently strong and we want to build on that momentum. We also have the ability to up the marketing ante in the UK."

During the three month period the number of people flying from the UK rose by 587 to 4,397.

"I had hoped for more airlift out of Canada as well," Dr. Brown said referring to plans for a Zoom flight out of Toronto, which were scuppered by UK airline authorities. "Even though that effort did not materialise the first time around we haven't given up. Nonetheless, air arrivals from Canada continue to do well and that is very encouraging."

During the period 28 additional tourists flew in from Canada, bringing the total to Canadian visitors to 5,105 for the three month period.

Dr. Brown added: "Meantime, it's important to note that we enjoy a large percentage of affluent travellers in Bermuda. I think your newspaper has reported on this topic.

"Although those affluent travellers from the US have experienced an economic slowdown our research suggests they are still willing to travel.

"We have to do our best now to ensure those travellers are choosing us. With events like the Newport-Bermuda Race and the Grand Slam of Golf and marketing strategies like the one we enjoy with the New York Mets — I think we stand a good chance to attract a significant number of Americans, despite the economic slowdown in the US."