An active hurricane season led to fewer air and cruise arrivals to Bermuda between July and September, the Bermuda Tourism Authority has revealed.

A statement said “unavoidable weather-related challenges”, particularly those caused by hurricanes Erin and Humberto, resulted in approximately 20,000 potential cruise ship visitors being diverted away from the island after “six storm-related cancellations”.

The storms also contributed to 6.3 per cent fewer air arrivals to Bermuda during the period.

Not all tourism statistics for the quarter were negative. Bermuda saw 21.8 per cent more air arrivals from Canada compared with the same period in 2024.

The number of air visitors from almost every other region either decreased or only marginally rose year-on-year.

While the average hotel rate and revenue available per room rose 13.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively, overall occupancy fell from 76 to 73 compared with the third quarter of 2024.

Vacation rentals were 66.7 per cent occupied during the quarter, down from 70.8 per cent year-on-year, but the average air visitor spent 2.2 per cent more per person and the year-to-date spending barely decreased.

Most of the 64,110 visitors who arrived on the island by air between July and September claimed to have travelled for vacation or leisure purposes.

Bermuda welcomed 214,385 cruise ship passengers between July and September, 7,204 fewer year-on-year and 25,515 fewer this year to date.

The BTA recorded 93 total yacht arrivals during the quarter, 21 fewer than between July and September 2024.