Air arrivals were down ten percent in the first quarter this year.

In total 28, 865 people flew to the Island between January and March, Premier Ewart Brown said today.

Dr. Brown, who is also Tourism Minister, said 32,235 people flew to Bermuda during the same period in 2009.

The drop was attributed to severe winter storms in the US, causing a total of 45 flight cancellations.

When air, cruise and yacht visitors were combined, there was a seven percent drop in arrivals this year — a total of 30, 078 people visited.

While the Island experienced a decline in visitors during the quarter, tourist expenditure remained constant. Last year tourists spent between $23 and $29 million on the Island during the first quarter. This year the Visitor Exit Survey estimated they spent between $26 and $29 million.

For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.