Retailers may be feeling the pinch from the slump in tourism but to small businessmen it is now a matter of survival.

Boyd Vallis rents out snorkel equipment at Church Bay but says business has been so bad this summer his income is down by 50 percent.

Mr. Vallis, a married father-of-two from Sandys, has run his stall on the South Shore for the past eight years but says this year is "the worst year to date".

"My income is down 50 percent, so we are struggling to make ends meet," he said.

"I thought this year was going to be amazing but it's been terrible. There's been a few people coming down here but it hasn't been great at all. And without the passengers from the cruise ships stopping by, it's been dead."

Mr. Vallis blames the drop in business on the US economic crisis and fewer cruise ships coming to Hamilton, but also pinpoints a bus tour transporting cruise ship passengers from Dockyard to Horseshoe Bay, bypassing Church Bay.

At his stall the 46-year-old rents out snorkelling gear, chairs and umbrellas, as well as offering snacks and sodas for sale.

Mr. Vallis added that he has also noticed more tourists are bringing their own masks and snorkels on vacation.

"I would guess about 30 percent more tourists are bringing their own equipment," he said. "I think they've got their budget sorted out more and are pre-packaging their trip. But without the passers-by from cruise ships I may as well go home."

He said: "As a small businessman I don't expect Government to come and say 'Here's some money to help you stay in business' - that's not free enterprise. But the Department of Tourism has a budget of millions so I think they should have someone on the cruise ships at Dockyard to talk to the tourists, to tell them what they can do on the Island.

"At the moment with this tour bus, tourists are not exploring as much and finding places like Church Bay. They are just going on this tour.

"My attitude is, if it stays as it is, then I will have to do something else. But if Tourism didn't have someone like me sitting down here offering something to do for the tourists (such as snorkelling and refreshments), then what is there for visitors to do?"