With the tourism industry in a lean period, which has seen hotel occupancy and arrivals drop, the Premier pointed to several successes during the second quarter of this year.

Successes included air arrivals increasing from destinations apart from the US. Canada and the UK both saw their arrivals numbers rise six percent compared to last year while visitors from countries outside of North America and Europe saw an increase in air arrivals by 12 percent. This accounted for approximately an additional 1,500 visitors during the three-month period compared to 2007.

Premier Ewart Brown also noted that while overall visitor arrivals were down nearly five percent compared to the first half of 2007, they had out performed arrivals for the same period in 2004 to 2006.

Dr. Brown highlighted the Newport to Bermuda Race as a success during the second quarter: "This biennial Department of Tourism sponsored event brought upwards of 3,000 people to our shores. The Bermuda Hotel Association properties reported hotel occupancies north of 95 percent for five consecutive days when the sailors and spectators converged here at the end of June. In the days before the race it was virtually impossible to get a room.

"Local restaurants were full, Hamilton city streets were bustling and many commented on the buzz of activity at Barr's Bay Park for days on end. It is clear: whenever this sports tourism event comes to Bermuda it stimulates the tourism industry. Our support for this event is critically important and it will continue."

He added that on the eve of the race the sailors were told that Bermuda would like them to visit at other times such as the Bermuda International Love Festival or PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

The opening of Newstead was another success during the second quarter highlighted by the Premier at his quarterly news conference on the state of tourism; as was the renovation of the old Bay Wing at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and the Premier's visit to a New York Mets game where he encouraged people to visit the Island.

A new event on the tourism calender was also unveiled. Former Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt is organising a conference in Bermuda this November for the Opportunity Funding Corporation (OFC), a nonprofit organisation which promotes capitalism and entrepreneurship within the African American and minorities community. Two hundred visitors will come for the conference at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

Black Entertainment Television's founder Bob Johnson, who was the first black billionaire, and Morris Reid, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to the Clinton administration, were named on the event's website as attendees while Dr. Brown told the news conference on Wednesday that basketball legend Magic Johnson and actor Chris Rock have also been invited and "voiced their intention" of coming to the event.

He added that if polls projecting Barack Obama as the US's next president were correct the OFC will have "added significance on the world stage" which would in turn provide exposure for Bermuda.

Dr. Brown also said he hoped to make an announcement soon about where the Hospitality Learning Centre would be located. Previously Dr. Brown has said it would assist in providing young people with information about the tourism industry and he hoped to have it up and running by the end of the year.