the first week of May, Government figures show.

Air arrivals were down to 9,099 for the week ending last Sunday, compared to 10,396 during the same period last year.

However, cruise arrivals were up slightly over the same week in 1993 with 5,799 visitors compared to 5,670.

Since the year began, air arrivals have improved by more than 7,000 with 109,427 visitors in 1994 compared to 101,562 in 1993.

Cruise ship arrivals have declined by 445 -- 15,101 this year compared to 15,546 in 1993.

A Finance Ministry source said it was unrealistic to expect the same growth as last year, and what the Island was seeing now was a period of adjustment.