Total visitor spending increased by $800,000 during the first quarter of this year.

Between January and the end of March visitors spent $30.5 million on the Island, compared to $29.7 million during the same period last year. In 2007 visitors spent $66.9 million and in 2008 they spent $54.9 million during the same three months.

While total visitor spending rose by 2.7 percent this year, the number of people who visited Bermuda actually fell by seven percent.

The Department of Statistics released the figures yesterday and noted the average visitor spent $1,026 on their trip compared to last year's average of $922. Paying for accommodation accounted for approximately 55 percent of visitors' expenditure with an additional 24.8 percent of their total spending going toward meals and beverages in restaurants.

Cruise ship visitors continued to provide less revenue than their counterparts who flew to the Island. One cruise ship visited Bermuda during the first quarter, carrying 985 passengers who spent $171,185 or approximately $174 each.

While visitor spending was up hotels did not rake in the profits.

The bulletin stated: "Aggregate gross receipts for the hotel industry totalled $23.2 million in the first quarter of 2010. Hotel industry revenue collected during the first quarter of 2010 was approximately $4 million below revenue earned during the same period of 2009.

"Despite efforts to attract more visitors through discounted airfares from select destinations and resort hotel package deals, total guest receipts declined 15 percent."