Tourism Minister Renee Webb yesterday described as “complete nonsense” a story that she has told Bermuda Hotel Association members not to release their occupancy figures.

And she said anecdotal evidence from the main hotels showed occupancy levels for June were up on last year and July was also expected to be very good.

VSB reported on Monday that the Minister had asked the hotels not to make public the figures.

But last night Ms Webb said: “It is complete nonsense. For one thing, it is not in my purview to tell them that. And secondly, they are their figures and they can release them if they want to.

“Most of the major hotels are showing 80 percent plus occupancy for June and July is expected to be very good as well.

“I've spoke to Ariel Sands, Fairmont Hamilton, Fairmont Southampton, all the major ones recently and the anecdotal evidence is very good.”

Ms Webb said she would love to release the figures, but they had not yet been collated for the quarter.

There was controversy earlier this year when the Minister said she would not release arrival figures on a quarterly basis, but only disclose the information when spending data was available as well.

Arrival figures has previously been released on a monthly basis, then former Tourism Minister David Allen moved it to quarterly.

Ms Webb said releasing even quarterly figures without spending would not give the statistics a proper context.