September than they did a year earlier.

The increase in spending came despite a 1.9 percent decline in air arrivals over last year as a total of 116,731 visitors were recorded in the peak tourism season.

Total expenditure by visitors was estimated at $152.3 million, according to Government's Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics released this week.

Resort hotels bore the brunt in the drop of visitors with 3,641 fewer guests than the same period last year.

But small hotels, cottage colonies and clubs recorded a boost of 627 more guests.

Although there was one more cruise ship catering to the Island this year -- bringing the total to 69 -- visitors still fell 0.6 percent to 91,721.

However, expenditure for cruise ship visitors edged up to $21 million from the previous year's $20.7 million.

Guest accommodations continued with opposing reports as major resort hotels had a 1.8 percent employment increase while cottage colonies and housekeeping units, and guest houses and micro-units dropped 15.6 and 12.9 percent, respectively.

Also released yesterday were numbers for trips abroad by residents.

Numbers remained fairly steady with a slight increase from last year's 34,207 to 35,634 for the same period this year.

The US remains the number one destination with 25,770 locals entering the major gateway.

Total expenditure and purchases by travelling Bermudians have yet to be released.