visitor figures are down.

Statistic for the month of March showed that total visitor arrivals for the year to date were down by 5.2 percent from the first three months of 1997.

By the end of March, Bermuda had welcomed 52,472 visitors to the Island -- of those 52,019 were air visitors.

In the month of March there were 23,815 air arrivals -- a decrease of 12.3 percent compared to March 1997.

The majority of the visitors for the month of March were from the US -- 17,432 -- with New York City remaining as the most important American metropolitan market for Bermuda.

Canadian arrival decreased by 8.8 percent last month with 3,700 Canadian visitors flying to the Island compared to 4,057 in March 1997.

But for the year to date, Canadian air arrivals were up slightly by 0.08 percent.

European arrivals were down by a whopping 41.29 percent with only 310 Europeans flying to the Island last month compared to 528 in March 1997. For the year to date the numbers were down by 36.01 percent.

However, good news emerged from the United Kingdom with some 1,895 Brits flying to Bermuda in March -- a 6.34 percent increase. For the year to date the Island has enjoyed a 13.49 percent increase in British visitors compared to last year.

Last month only one cruise ship sailed to Bermuda carrying 451 passengers.

DIVORCES GRANTED DIV Divorces granted The following divorce decrees nisi were granted at the Supreme Court between; Cynthia Ann Phillips and Wesley Dion Phillips, Barrinette Etiole Swan and Rupert Wayne Swan, Antoinette Joy Williams and Forrest Winfield Williams, Elizabeth Ann Dillas and Cleveland William Dillas, Tracey Suzette R. P.

Robinson and Mickey Statford Robinson.

Carol Virginia Greaves and Wayne Leonard Greaves, Dionne Andrea Walker and Duane Murray Walker, Laverne Andrea Annette Augustus and David Eugene Augustus, Elizabeth Olive Bean and Sean Patrick Bean, Jennifer Kaye Lightbourne and Steven Oscar Lightbourne.

Franklyn Furbert and Theresa Joy Furbert, Laverne Elizabeth Lightbourne and Clarence Jonathan M. Lightbourne, Shawnita Josephine S. Furbert and Aleck Clayton Furbert, Mark Andrew Madeiros and Gail Elizabeth Madeiros.

Julia Adriann Woodley and Clifford Bernard Alexander Woodley, Mark Steven Henneberger and Heather Joy Henneberger, Rosane Silveira DeSilva and Leonard Charles DeSilva.

Christine Ellen Butler and Michael Thomas Butler, Dawn Marie Gibbons and Trenton Charles E. L. Gibbons, Judith Ann Catherine Richardson and Donald William McNeil Richardson, Thomas Anthony Samuels and Denise Arlene Samuels, Erskilene J. Cross and Howard E. A. Cross, Jennifer Mary Ingham and William James Ingham, E. Geoffrey Griffiths and Jean-Anne Griffiths.