A tourism industry expert said it was important not to overplay increased arrival figures - in case it put people off coming to Bermuda.

Mike Winfield, chairman of Bermuda Hotel Association and President of Cambridge Beaches, said overplaying such figures could drive away potential visitors.

The comments come in the wake of statistics released by Premier Ewart Brown showing that during the first quarter of this year, arrivals figures increased by 24.8 percent in January, 12.6 percent in February and 17.9 percent in March.

Dr. Brown said the figures pointed to a need for “hotel development as many of the Island’s hotels are filled to capacity with guests”.

But Mr. Winfield, who is also the co-chairman of Bermuda Alliance Tourism, said yesterday it was important not to scare away potential visitors and said there were still many rooms available in July and August.

He said: “Yes there are times in June when Bermuda’s hotels are full and that is a cause for celebration but there are many days when there are rooms available as well. We do not want to send the wrong message, that there is no room, and scare off airlines and visitors.”

Earlier this week, in a press release Dr. Brown said the growth was “stellar” when compared to other Islands. His press secretary commented that during the same period most of the Caribbean region was struggling to attract new business.

In particular they pointed to Islands declining arrivals figures in the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Montserrat and said “only” the Cayman Islands was showing a similar increase in arrivals.

They attributed the figures to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s latest statistics report.

But further inspection of the report reveals that 66 percent of the destinations listed saw a percentage increase in arrivals during the same period and while the Cayman’s figure is close to Bermuda’s, Cozumel trumped Bermuda with arrivals increasing by 35.1 percent over the period.

Mr. Winfield said the reason some of the Island’s competitors were having issues raising their arrivals figures was due to new US immigrations laws, which require all US citizens to have a passport when travelling outside the country.

But the law is not hurting Bermuda because its visitors are “well heeled and already have passports” he said.

Another reason is that the tourism industry as a whole was working together to improve the overall product, including customer service, and generate fresh ideas to attract visitors.

“It may have taken a while to increase standards,” he said. “But now visitors are getting an experience that is worth the high price they are paying. From our ferries to taxis and new restaurants, everything has improved.”

And he said so far it looked like the 2007 beach and sizzle season would be better than last year’s but said it was important to increase arrivals during the November - March spa and golf season in order to have a health tourism industry.

The Ministry is already hard at work wooing European airlines in the hopes that the new market would help the Island during the ‘off season’ months, he said.

In-depth statistics of the first quarter released today reveal:

* Spending by tourists who came to Bermuda by airline increased by 21.5 percent during the first quarter.

* Spending on shopping, entertainment, transportation, sightseeing and sporting activities rose by 20.8 percent.

* Cruise arrivals jumped from 425 visitors to 2,765.

* 45,825 tourists who arrived by air spent $61.

* Sixty-three percent of people working in hotels and other visitor accommodations are Bermudian.