The Opposition have renewed their attack on tourism figures which they say are being distorted. The latest flight figures show by the end of September there had been 236,682 air visitors, up almost 22,000 on the same point last year.

But United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert said: “We would like to draw attention to a lack of clarity in Government’s visitor arrival statistics, which distorts our ability to judge whether or not this Island is succeeding as a leisure tourist destination.

“By failing to distinguish between visitors who come to the Island for a vacation and those who come to conduct business, we are depriving ourselves of valuable information that can identify strengths and weaknesses in tourism, including the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

“Our first concern is that Bermudians are being sold a bill of goods about the health of the industry.”

He said Bermuda has suffered from increased economic vulnerability as a result of tourism’s freefall as a major industry.

“In the eight years of the PLP in power, the Island’s economy has become dangerously dependent on the success of international business alone,” he said.

“We believe the Government must lead a national effort to reverse this alarming drift toward a one-horse economy.

“Government’s Throne Speech this week should identify as a national priority the rebuilding of Bermuda’s tourism industry and how it should happen.”

Mr. Furbert said the party would put out monthly advertisements on points of concern.