The last six months of 2008 saw a double digit decline in the percentage of visitors flying into the Island for holiday

The Department of Tourism released corrected figures last week after admitting a statistical mistake had inflated arrivals numbers since June 2008.

The newly released figures show the stark reality of what has been dubbed by Premier Ewart Brown as the "platinum period" of Bermuda tourism.

The Island's peak summer season, June until September saw a 13.9 percent drop in overall arrivals.

Initially the Department had calculated a 8.7 percent drop the arrivals for June 2008 but the newly released figures show there was actually a 14.5 percent drop when compared to June 2007's arrivals.

Previously the Department reported that July saw an 1.9 percent drop in air arrivals when compared to 2007. However, the new figures show there was actually a 10.8 percent drop in arrivals, bringing the total number of visitors who flew in to 33,422.

August also brought bad news. While originally the public was told there had been a 1.2 percent drop in air arrivals, in reality 32,948 people flew in for holiday. This meant there had been a 14.4 percent drop when compared to 2007.

September's arrivals figures were even worse. Despite the fact that September was seen as one of the bright spots of the summer season, reporting a 3.3 percent growth in air arrivals, the truth of the matter was rather grim. September saw a 17.3 percent drop in air arrivals when compared to 2007.

And the statistics show October was bleak despite the fact the Island hosted the glitzy star-studded Bermuda Music Festival. While taxpayers shelled out $3 million to fly Beyonce, Alicia Keyes, UB40 and others to the Island in an attempt to woe visitors Bermuda actually saw a 17.9 percent drop in air arrivals. Originally the Department reported a 2.2 percent dip in arrivals for October 2008.

November, which was originally reported as maintaining the same level of arrivals as in 2007, really saw a 23.8 percent drop in arrivals.

December was another example of reported growth which turned out to be a double digit decline. At first it was reported that there had been a 6.8 percent jump in arrivals whereas the real numbers showed an 18.3 percent reduction in visitors flying to the Island.

Last week, Michael Oatley, Director of Information Technology Office, said the error was caused because long term residents and work permit holders flying back into the Island had been counted as tourists.

At the same press conference Premier Ewart Brown revealed overall air arrivals for 2008 fell 13.7 percent compared to 2007.

MONTHLY AIR ARRIVAL FIGURES

MONTH 2008 2007 Decline

June 32,796 38,336 -14.5%

July 33,422 37,473 -10.8%

August 32,048 37,441 -14.4%

September 18,993 22,961 -17.3%

October 21,814 26,582 -17.9%

November 15,970 20,762 -23.1%

December 12,182 14,910 -18.3%