to make it a miserable May for tourism.

Air arrivals from all markets fell by 11.41 percent and bed nights dropped by 9.85 percent compared to the same period last year.

However, cruise passengers rose by 18.34 percent and, according to Visitor Arrival Statistics released by the Department of Tourism, hotels recorded occupancies up three percent over last year, apparently due to reductions in the number of hotels in business following the closures of Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort and the Palmetto Bay Hotel.

There were 204,679 bed nights sold in May, compared to 227,052 last year, with large and small hotels bearing the brunt of the fall -- registering drops of 20 and 11 percent respectively.

In May, a total of 73,644 visitors came to the Island, up 0.94 percent on last year, and brought the year to date total to 167,090 -- down 4.47 percent on 1999.

Air visitors accounted for 37,712 and cruise passengers were 35,778.

The US, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and rest of world categories fell by 10.87, 14.78, 5.79, 23.54 and 25.67 percent respectively.

Of the US regions, the biggest fall was from the northeast, down 24 percent from 10,173 to 7,708, while the core mid-Atlantic region dropped by 7.8 percent, from 15,318 to 14,199, and the southeast fell by 5.15 percent from 4,875 to 4,624.

The Midwest increased by 1.97 percent from 2,536 to 2,586 and the west rose by 6.69 percent to 1,675 from 1,570.

New York is still Bermuda's biggest US customer base, followed by Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Whereas the hotels have seen declines in bed nights in the year to date, cottage colonies, private clubs and housekeeping cottages have seen increases.

Airline load factors fell from 75 percent to 67 percent this May, with 49,000 seats being sold compared to 52,000 last year.

Here is a summary of May's tourism figures: Air arrivals: Down 11.41 percent compared to May, 1999 Bed nights sold: Down 9.85 percent compared to May, 1999 Cruise arrivals: Up 18.34 percent compared to May, 1999 Hotel occupancies: Up 3 percent compared to May, 1999