A downturn in the tourism industry appears to have bottomed out, according to Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley.

In particular he said the announcement that WestJet would be starting a daily service from Toronto in May was good news, though he said the public should be told if the company has been given any incentives to start coming to the Island.

But he cautioned people from believing that a 12 percent increase in overall arrivals has translated to increased revenue for retailers, restaurants and taxi drivers.

Sen. Dunkley was speaking after the Premier Ewart Brown revealed the overall increase in arrivals, which were boosted by an increase in cruise ships.

"The majority of visitors who came were cruise ship visitors, who we know do not spend as much as visitors who fly in," said Sen. Dunkley.

"Cruise visitors are an important part of the industry, and they generate Government revenues through passenger tax and cabin tax, but they are also hot dog and hamburger visitors and we are a high end destination."

Business travel was another area which helped buoy the third quarter's arrivals, while leisure visitors remained the same, business travellers rose 12 percent, by approximately 1,000 people.

And convention travel is still decimated by the recession, with only 1,491 people coming to the Island for a convention, compared to 5,511 in the third quarter of 2007.

Regarding air arrivals, Sen. Dunkley said the 5.5 percent decline in visitors compared to 2008's third quarter, which was significantly lower than 2007's.

This year 79,810 visitors flew to the Island between July and September compared to 84,463 people in 2008 and 97,875 people during the same period in 2007.

"During the summer of 2008, that is when the bottom dropped out, it was the run-up to the US election and the beginning of the recession," he said. "If we had seen a larger decline than we did we should be in another line of business."

But he added that September's one percent increase in air arrivals — the first increase since February 2007 — was good news.

"We are pleased to see that we appear to have bottomed out and that new partnerships with hotels and marketing are working," he said "It is a healthy change that we will support."

As for WestJet he said the United Bermuda Party supported any additional air load to the Island, particularly as WestJet has a good reputation for providing service and following safety regulations.

But he added that it was important all the facts be laid on the table.

"The public have a right to know if they have been provided any incentives to start the service," he said. "I want to make it clear that we support them, but in the interest of public information the Government should divulge the details at this time."

He also said that it was important not to forget Air Canada's long service with the Island and noted the carrier has been serving Bermuda through "thick and thin".