visitor numbers and the amount of hotel bed nights sold fell.

The only bright spot, according to the Department of Tourism's Visitor Arrival Statistics, was Bermuda Hotel Association members having the highest March occupancy levels they have enjoyed since 1995.

The Island's smaller properties also showed some improvements, with the number of air visitors staying at housekeeping cottages up by nearly 20 percent on the same month last year.

The grand total of visitors in March fell by 10.65 percent, compared to the same period last year, to 24,188. Air visitors dropped by 7.52 percent.

The drop followed a 5.06 percent fall in the number of total visitors and a 9.46 percent fall in the number of air visitors in February.

Visitor arrivals continue to fall Every US market was down during March, with a total of 17,129 people -- a drop of 13.52 percent on last year -- visiting the Island from its major market.

The key mid-Atlantic region of the US, which includes New York, dropped by nearly 16 percent to 7,009. The northeast region fell by 10.5 percent to 4,491 and the southeast region decreased by 0.67 percent to 3,241.

Canada was up by 24.86 percent to 3,903 and the UK rose by 5.12 percent to 2,135 visitors.

The total number of bed nights sold during the month was 134,058, down 18.54 percent overall. In all accommodations, bed nights were down 19.20 percent.

Large hotels suffered most, losing 28.19 percent of business compared to 1999, taking bed nights to 54,876.

Small hotels were down 12.89 percent, cottage colonies down 4.59 percent, housekeeping cottages up 19.91 percent, guest houses down 26.45 percent and accommodations with 12 or less beds up 22.81 percent.

The number of air visitors staying in commercial accommodations fell by 9.67 percent.

Large hotels were hit hardest, down 15.75 percent, followed by guest houses, 13.7 percent, cottage colonies, 4.13 percent, and small hotels, 3.54 percent.

The number of air visitors staying at private clubs increased by 10.3 percent.

Housekeeping cottages went up 32 percent and accommodations with 12 beds or less went up 25 percent in this category.

The Department of Tourism also reported airlines had a load factor of 74 percent during March, filling 34,000 of their 44,000 available seats.