Tourism officials have condemned an attack on two American visitors who were beaten up while waiting for a bus.

A 37-year-old man was hospitalised with a broken arm, hand, cuts to his head and bruises all over his body after three men jumped him and his girlfriend.

The couple had just finished dinner at the beach-side restaurant at the Fairmont Southampton restaurant and were waiting for the shuttle bus.

At 8.50 p.m. Saturday night, as the two waited near the tennis courts, three men dressed in dark clothing snuck up from behind and demanded their money.

The American couple refused and while his 33-year-old girlfriend ran for help the man beaten with blunt objects.

On Monday, Shelley Meszoly, regional director of sales and marketing for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Bermuda said: "I can confirm that there was an incident at the hotel on December 29 involving two of our guests and we are extremely saddened that this happened to someone visiting Bermuda.

"We are cooperating with the Police and due to the ongoing Police investigation we are unable to comment further."

Officials at the Bermuda Department of Tourism said they, like the rest of the Island's residents, were very disturbed to hear of the news of the attack.

A Department spokesperson said: "Such violent acts on our visitors do nothing to enhance Bermuda's stellar reputation as a premier vacation destination.

"The public can be assured that representatives of the BDOT are contacting these guests to ensure that anything that can be done to assist them will be.

"This kind of attack does not reflect the majority of Bermudians' views on tourists and the importance of tourism to our economy."

The injured victim was released from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on the same night, but his girlfriend's purse was stolen.

Inside was her digital camera, cell phone and cash, which has not been recovered.