decrease to more than eight percent.

Tourism statistics just released show falls in air arrivals, visitors to Island hotels and the number of bednights sold in every type of accommodation bar cottage colonies.

For the year to date, a total of 339,159 people came by air, down nearly four percent on 1998 -- resulting in a total of air and sea visitors of 533,047 until November.

The US saw a drop of 4.69 percent on the month, compared to last year, with close to 17,000 people visiting. The year total so far is 270,214 -- down 3.20 percent.

Canadian guests fell by 21 percent to 2,874, down on the year to November 1999 to 28,401, a decrease of 9.17 percent.

The only bright spot was a "rest of the world'' increase of 2.38 percent to 431 people.

With an overall bednight decline of 4.08 percent for November 1999 compared to 1998, the monthly number fell from 140,886 to 135,140.

Large hotels and properties with 12 or less rooms suffered most during November, with falls of nearly 14 percent and close to 30 percent respectively. That meant falls of 63,084 to 54,291 and 1,483 to 1,052, respectively.

Small hotels saw a slight drop of 1.11 percent to 17,288 on the month and housekeeping cottages suffered a 10.71 percent decrease to 6,605.

The bright spot was a 12.80 percent rise in cottage colony bednights for the month, taking the number to 11,146.

For the year to date, large hotels saw bednights fall from 976,490 to 905,775, small hotels from 243,465 to 225,546 and cottage colonies from 165,584 to 150,868.

During November, the airlines filled 36,537 out of a combined total of 46,400 seats -- a load factor of 79 percent.

NOVEMBER TOURISM ARRIVALSOverall air visitors Down 8%.

US, Canada, UK air arrivals All down.Bednights Down by 4.08%.

Large hotel bednights Down 14%Cottage colony bednights Up 12.8%.

Airline load factor Up to 79%