The Bermuda Tourism Authority has reported a boost in visitor numbers in the third quarter with more people flying and cruising to the island.

According to figures released by the BTA this week, 69,983 visitors flew to the island between July and September, an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.

Meanwhile, cruise visitor numbers rose to 247,471 during the quarter, a 15.4 per cent increase from 2025.

By the end of September, the BTA had recorded a total of 167,708 air visitors to the island in 2026, a 5.2 per cent increase year-on-year, while year-to-date cruise visitor numbers rose 11.9 per cent to 482,650.

Meanwhile air visitors were estimated to have spent a total of $361.7 million in Bermuda, averaging $2,157 per person, in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 3.8 per cent from the same period of 2025.

A BTA spokeswoman said: “In total nearly 300,000 leisure visitors travelled to Bermuda in the third quarter of 2026, up 14.4 per cent on the same period last year.

“Air and cruise visitor arrivals also reached their highest levels in four years, in Q3 and year to date.

“Air visitor spending grew and hotel revenue per available room rose 11.7 per cent, suggesting that growth may be reaching hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport providers and the many local businesses that serve visitors.

“As new hotel rooms come online, the priority is to carry this momentum into every season of the year.”

The figures showed that of the 69,983 air visitors in the quarter, 51,881 were vacation and leisure travellers — an increase of 9.7 per cent — while the number of business travellers rose 17.3 per cent to 8,292.

The number of seats sold on Bermuda-bound flights rose by 7.9 per cent with visitor and resident numbers considered.

However, air capacity fell year-on-year by 3.5 per cent, meaning there were 5,734 fewer seats available in the quarter.

Hotel occupancy was 78 per cent in the quarter, up from 73 per cent in 2025, while hotel revenue per available room rose by $67.80.

While leisure air visitors were estimated to have spent slightly less per person during the quarter, the increase in numbers meant that the total amount spent by leisure air visitors rose by $9.6 million to $122.09 million.

Business travellers, meanwhile, contributed another $21.3 million to the local economy — an increase of $5.1 million — bringing the total spending by air visitors to $156.63 million.

Yacht arrivals also increased during the quarter with 162 passenger yachts travelling to Bermuda, an increase of 74.2 per cent from 2025.

Jan Hutton, the Bermuda Tourism Authority chief executive, said: “More people are choosing Bermuda, with estimated air visitor spending reaching $156.6 million in Q3.

“That is a credit to our hotels, our airline and cruise partners and every Bermudian who makes a visitor feel welcome.

“Our job now is to build on this momentum and grow visitation across every season, so tourism delivers more jobs, more business and more opportunity for the people who call this island home.”

The BTA also released its quarterly corporate activity report, which highlighted its work promoting the island during the quarter.

The report said that $678,000 had been spent on paid media in the quarter, garnering 68.1 million impressions, and secured media coverage in Britain, the US and Canada, including pieces in The Times, Dive Magazine, Yacht.com and Lonely Planet.

In August, the BTA partnered with Fever Pitch to mark National Rum Day with a Dark ‘n Stormy pop-up at Union Station in Toronto.