Air arrivals in the second quarter were the lowest they have been since 1980, while visitor spending during the three month period plummeted $18 million.

It was also the fifth consecutive quarter to see a decline in resort hotel occupancy.

The Department of Statistics released its second quarter bulletin, dealing with April, May and June figures yesterday. It stated:"Air arrivals during the second quarter of 2008 fell 10 percent compared to the same quarter last year.

"The number visitors stood at 89,642 persons, representing the lowest second quarter visitor total since 1980."

Prior to 1980 statistics were compiled using a different method.

The bulletin continued:

"The decline can be partly attributed to the knock on effects of soaring oil prices on the global economy, as some major carriers have reduced their service to the Island to combat increased fuel costs." "The decline in air arrivals translated into a similar fall in visitors staying at guest accommodations.

"Resort hotels experienced a decline in occupancy for the fifth consecutive quarter, dropping 13 percent, or 6,077 fewer bookings than recorded in the second quarter 2007.

"Similarly, visitors staying in small hotels, cottage colonies and clubs fell 19 percent. Visitors arriving by air spent an estimated $126 million during the second quarter of 2008, approximately $18.3 million less than the second quarter of 2007.

"This 12.7 percent decrease in spending is a direct consequence of fewer air visitors."

The quarterly bulletin came on the heels of Premier Ewart Brown announcing "August 2008 air arrivals were on par with blockbuster August 2007 performance".

He noted that despite economic hardship in the USair arrivals for August dropped only one percent.

In the Premier's second quarter press conference held in July, which dealt with the same period as the Department of Statistics bulletin released today the Premier said:"In the face of tough academic times in the US, it has been difficult in this calender year to keep pace with our blockbuster performance of 2007."

At the time Dr. Brown said air arrivals from the US were down 14 percent, though number of visitors who flew in were not release.Nor was the drop in hotel occupancy or visitor spending released.

The Royal Gazette no longer receives monthly breakdowns on arrivals and visitors' spending patterns from the Department of Tourism.

Opposition leader Kim Swan reiterated his call for Dr. Brown to resign, citing the closure of the New York sales office, the Premier's plan to open a sales office in China, and falling arrivals figures.

Mr. Swan added:"We need a non-partisan approach to rebuilding the Tourism industry and believe that is best achieved by the Government of Bermuda embracing the concept of a Tourism Authority. We need to put our industry in the hands of professionals."