Air arrivals increased by over 10,000 for the third quarter this year compared to 2003 ? although figures recently released by Government indicate a slight downturn in the overall number of tourists venturing to the Island.

The Department of Statistics? quarterly bulletin paints a fairly gloomy general picture of the state of the local tourism industry, with 11,587 fewer visitors recorded by the end of September than at the same time in 2003 and 2,377 fewer tourists than in 2002.

Air arrivals for the nine months to the end of September increased marginally to 215,960 compared to 213,579 in 2003 ? although last year saw the closing of many resort hotels in the aftermath of Hurricane Fabian.

However, this year?s figures are significantly down on the 229,191 air visitors through the first nine months in a natural disaster free 2002.

Third quarter estimated tourist expenditure was up from $112 million in 2003 to $131.9 million, but this again compares unfavourably with 2002?s third quarter total of $137 million.

The number of cruise ship visitors declined by 13.3 percent for the three month period, although this was in part due to a record number of cruise arrivals in 2003, including the seven visits of the mega-ship .

The numbers recorded this year ? 101,295 ? are well up on the 94,895 in same period in 2002.

The total estimated tourist expenditure by the end of September is also down in 2004 by $8 million in comparison to last year.

Residents meanwhile were flocking abroad, as 5,231 more Bermudians travelled overseas in this year?s third quarter than during the same period in 2003. Third quarter spending abroad has also increased by 18.5 percent.