THE Bermuda Hotel Association attributes this week's reported increase in visitor arrivals to amongst other things, the advent of low cost carriers Jet Blue and USA 3000.On Wednesday Premier and Tourism and Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown reported visitor arrivals were up 23.2 percent from last year. An increase, which he said led to one of the highest years in total visitation in recent history with 641,717 visitors to our shores last year compared to 521,024 in 2005. Air arrivals had also increased by 10.9 percent, cruise arrivals increased 36 percent and yacht arrivals increased by a whopping 56.3 percent.

Chairman of the Bermuda Hotel Association, Michael Winfield yesterday said he was convinced the success was also due to the increase in gateways and frequency of flights and includes the daily service from London, and last year's flight from Munich, as well as direct flights to/from Miami.

"I am hopeful that Dr. Brown and his team will have more good news on the subject of flights for 2007 and we view this continued improvement as a key element in the recovery of our tourism industry," he said. "I also believe the focus on the UK, Germany and Italy as key potential markets was important and am very pleased that this focus will continue."

Airport General Manager Jim Howes is reportedly in Italy this week engaged in discussions with tour operators regarding an Italy/Bermuda charter programme. It was also announced that despite the absence of a direct charter out of Germany this year, the Department of Tourism was focusing its efforts on building demand in the marketplace.

Working in partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association, Dr. Brown said they are in the final stages of negotiating an agreement with a German travel company, Eest Tourism Group: "In 2007, Eest will block seats on scheduled carriers to provide accessibility to the German-speaking market."

Dr. Brown added that next year, Eest will act as a charter operator to reintroduce direct charter service to Bermuda from Germany.

The Eest Tourism Group, Dr. Brown added will, subject to Cabinet approval, be appointed as the consulting partner to lead the entire marketing promotion project for the Department of Tourism and the Bermuda Hotel Association.

Mr. Winfield said he was convinced that these markets could help to bring back the traditional length of Bermuda's season by boosting numbers in September and October, boosted by a charter service from Boston.

Last year, TNT Vacations delivered in excess of 5,000 visitors to Bermuda. These charter flights will commence February 19 this year and will offer a bi-weekly charter air service for a total of 11 weeks.

Mr. Winfield added that the partnership between the Bermuda Department of Tourism and the private sector, evidence by the working committees of the Bermuda Alliance, further fuelled the island's recovery and will be evidenced yet again in a solid partnership between hotels and the department in the German market for 2007.

"We are working together, making plans, discussing options and then making those plans a reality. This will lead to continued growth," he said in closing.