The number of visitors arriving in Bermuda by air jumped 12.4 percent in the first quarter of 2005, compared to the same period last year.

Government?s Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics revealed that tourist expenditures were also up from the first quarter of last year.

?Air passengers spent an estimated $44.7 million on the Island during the first quarter of 2005,? the bulletin said.

Americans contribute 70 percent of air arrivals, with an increase of 16.5 percent.

And the Island is getting twice as many British visitors compared to this time last year ? but the lowest amount of Canadians since 1982.

Although it was the highest level of first quarter expenditure since the year 2000, out of the total $44.7 million spent by visitors a whopping $44.6 million was spent by air passengers, with only $100,000 was spent by cruise visitors.

This was a decrease of $100,000 from the first quarter of 2004.

Total expenditure by air travellers so far in 2005 is up 18.6 percent, which was stronger than the increase in arrivals at 12.4 percent.

But visitors who arrive by air are spending $2.1 million less on shopping, entertainment and transportation than they did one year ago.

But their expenditure on accommodation and food increased by more than 60 percent, to an estimated $23.9 million.

?This level of spending was up $9.1 million from the $14.8 million low recorded in the first quarter of 2004,? it said. ?The abnormally low level of expenditure was due primarily to the closure of a major hotel after extensive damage was caused by Hurricane Fabian.?

The statistics show that employment in the hotel industry has not yet reached the level it was before Hurricane Fabian in late 2003.

With 2,726 people employed in the hotel industry so far in 2005, this figure was only slightly down from the first quarter of 2004 at 2,332.

However, it was still less than it was before Hurricane Fabian arrived on the Island at 2,926 in April, 2003.

Resort hotels recorded higher occupancy levels with 19,104 guests when this time last year there were 15,243 guests.

In addition there was a 9.4 percent increase in visitors staying at private households.

However, guesthouses, housekeeping accommodations, small hotels and cottages all reported declines in occupancies compared to last year.

The greatest decrease was for guesthouses whose occupancy level had decreased by 10.5 percent.