Total visitor arrivals fell by more than a quarter in the first three months of this year, according to figures released this afternoon by Premier and Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown.

Air arrivals dropped by more than a fifth.

Dr. Brown revealed the figures at a press conference this afternoon and said: “After receiving the results of our first quarter it should be abundantly clear to everyone that Bermuda Tourism is not immune to the regional and global trends of an economy in dramatic downturn.”

Total visitor arrivals for the opening quarter of 2009 fell by 27.84 percent year over year, with 32,361 tourists between January and March, compared to 44,845 last year.

Air arrivals fell 22.75 percent, with 32,235 visitors — 9,500 less than the first quarter of 2008.

Total visitation in commercial properties dropped 28 percent.

Spending per visitor also fell. The figures showed that visitors spent between $734 and $922 in the first quarter, compared to between $1,013 to $1,216 per person in the first quarter last year.

See tomorrow’s Royal Gazette for the full story and reaction.