to 1992.

There were 72,431 arrivals between January 1 and April 18 -- up 5,380 on the same period last week.

Latest figures also show the biggest leap in weekly arrivals for 18 weeks.

Some 10,026 holidaymakers flew here for the week ending April 18, a 24 percent rise over last year. The four week moving total ,a mpre accurate guage of arrivals trends is up too, by 4,203, or 14.6 percent.

Although latest arrivals suggest Bermuda is pulling out of recession, retail sales have been disappointing.

In February, sales plunged by 4.2 percent on last year.