and the Shadow Minister of Tourism declared yesterday.

Their warnings came after arrivals figures released yesterday indicated steep declines from Bermuda's key North American markets.

The Department of Tourism said air arrivals tumbled nearly eight percent in May, contributing to an overall decline of 2.3 percent in the number of air and cruise ship visitors who travelled to the Island in the first five months of the year.

A total of 37,339 US visitors arrived by air in May, compared to 40,568 for the same period last year; a decline of 7.96 percent.

To date 105,328 Americans have flown to the Island this year, down 4.44 percent from 1996's total of 110,224 for the year to date.

"Clearly there is deep abiding concern; May is supposed to be our blockbuster month. The big resorts rely on the summer season to build up enough fat to carry them over the winter,'' the Progressive Labour Party's David Allen told The Royal Gazette .

"These figures are absolutely incredible,'' added Island retailer and member of the Coalition for Change, John Casling. "If I was Minister of Tourism the first thing I'd do is fire everyone, then I'd resign.'' Most disturbing in the May figures are the declines registered across the US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. May air arrivals from the Northeast were down 8.04 percent from last year and arrivals from mid-Atlantic states such as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were down 10.08 percent.

To date 6.82 percent fewer visitors from the Northeast and 3.14 percent from the Mid-Atlantic states have "let themselves go'' in Bermuda.

"They've spent $33 million advertising in those markets; on what?'' asked Mr.

Casling. "And then for the Minister of Tourism to say (in yesterday's edition of the Bermuda Sun) there's an increased awareness of Bermuda... what are they doing, reading the ads then going to Aruba?'' After two years and millions of dollars said Mr. Allen, one would expect to see some results.

"Clearly that hasn't happened and clearly there are other factors, but the statistics overall are an indictment of Government's failure to come to grips with the tourism problem,'' he said.

While North Americans may be staying away, European air arrivals for May showed a 21.17 percent increase, while arrivals from the UK appeared equally robust, at 20.74 percent above last year's performance. Eight hundred and thirty Europeans flew to the Island in May -- up from 685 the year before -- while 3,109 Britons visited, up from 2,575 in 1996.

In real terms, the totals don't amount to much, said Mr. Casling: "The European statistics are a joke; of course something from nothing looks good.'' Meanwhile, compared to May last year, small hotels ( down 11.7 percent), guest houses (-15.6), private clubs (-17.3), and establishments with less than 12 beds (-36.8) took the brunt of the declines.

May tourism arrivals fall Large hotels saw 3.4 percent fewer clients for the same period.

Measured in terms of bednights, large hotels posted a 5.1 percent decline for May; small hotels an 11.6 percent decline; and housekeeping cottages anh 11.5 percent drop. Only cottage colonies and guest houses posted gains.

For the first five months of the year, bednights -- a key indicator of how much visitors are spending -- by accommodation are down 4.1 percent over 1996.

The average length of stay for the year to date, at 5.6 days, is down 0.1 percent from 1996.

Director of Tourism Gary Phillips last night told The Royal Gazette the "numbers are as they are.'' Part of the problem he said, has been the cost of airfares to the Island and hoteliers and Tourism staff have been working on ways to provide "the stimulus that will generate increased bookings.'' The effects of recently advertised air and accomodations packages being advertised in the North American market have not yet been felt.

As a result of those efforts, people can expect to see much better performances in June and July, he said.

Canadian air arrivals surged by 10.63 percent with 3,497 Canadians visiting compared to 3,161 for 1996.

But even that spot of good news was tempered by an overall decline for the rest of the year; to date 1,588 fewer Canadians visited the Island compared to the same period last year, a decline of 9.17 percent.