Tourism statistics for the first eight months of the year show a 3.2 percent drop in visitor arrivals compared to the same period in 1996.

Monthly visitor statistics, released by the Department of Tourism, showed that cruise arrivals were up by 2.8 percent to 134,584 for the year, including August.

But air arrivals were down by 5.9 percent to 263,805 for the year.

Figures for the month of August showed that 42,357 people flew into Bermuda, down 9.13 percent from August 1996.

And the figures for August, 1997 also showed a drop in air arrivals from the Island's key markets in the US.

For the year-to-date, arrivals from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states -- which include New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts -- were down by 10.51 percent and 4.33 percent respectively.

But the Island continues to enjoy growth in the Western states -- including California, Oregon and Arizona -- which saw a 3.49 percent increase over 1996 for the year-to date.

The number of Canadian visitors fell 8.44 percent, from 24,424 in 1996 to 22,363 in 1997, while UK and European arrivals were up 6.31 and 5.74 percent respectively.

All the various categories of visitor accommodations saw a decrease, totalling 5.5 percent for first eight months of the year.

Large hotels saw a 3.6 percent drop, small hotels were down 11.3 percent, cottage colonies dropped 0.4 percent and guest houses fell 22.4 percent.

Statistics regarding visitor bed nights -- at accommodations -- for August show they fell by 6.4 percent in comparison to the same month in 1996 -- from 202,642 to 189,702.

And figures for the year to date show that bed nights -- a key indicator of visitor spending -- were down 5.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Last night Tourism Minister David Dodwell said he preferred to focus on occupancy and room nights instead of air arrivals since they were a better measure.

"Arrival figures are not the best way to gauge the impact on the tourist economy, room nights are,'' he said.

And he pointed out that there was a "bright spot'' as the UK and Europe figures were up for the year to date.