The biggest threat to Bermuda’s resurgent tourism industry is the island’s political environment, according to Bill Hanbury.

The outgoing Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO was speaking as the latest November figures showed an 11th month of consecutive growth in the industry as well as a 52 per cent increase in air arrivals compared to last year.

Mr Hanbury told The Royal Gazette there was no room for politics in tourism, and lamented the growing politicising of the airport project.

“There should be no politics in tourism; and it’s of great consternation to me that tourism has been so politicised in Bermuda,” he said.

“It causes real damage and does not help anyone.

“Take the airport as an example; the politicising of the airport is really a poor move across the board.

“The tourism economy needs a new airport; it is embarrassing to the country to have that airport. I am not here to say how it should get done, but whether or not it is labour unions, politicians, Government, the Opposition, people need to sit down and figure out how to build a new airport.

“We desperately need a new airport: we have no money to build it and someone is willing to build it for us; end of conversation; just build it. If someone else has a better idea, bring it on, but I don’t see anyone with a better idea.

“Until the politicians and the unions sit down and figure it out the only people they are hurting are their constituents by not building an airport.”

The BTA boss maintained that the successful execution of next year’s America’s Cup would also be vital to the revival of the tourism industry.

“We need to take full advantage of this. The Bermuda tourism product has places it could never of got to, with the America’s Cup.

“We need to make sure that when it is here, it’s all hands on deck to make it a stellar event.

“It will tax the country and people will be stressed out, but everyone has to step up and people will have to deal with the inconvenience to keep moving this economy in the right direction.

“It’s given us gravitas and it’s one of the reasons we have attracted other sporting events like regattas and triathlons.

November marked the 11th month of consecutive growth in the tourism industry with an additional 3,600 air visitors, compared to November 2015. Air arrivals for the year-to-date are also up 16 per cent, or 21,800, compared to the first 11 months of 2015.

Mr Hanbury described the latest figures as a “magnificent result”.

“When I first saw the numbers, I had to look at them twice,” he said. “We are no longer cautiously optimistic, we are firmly optimistic about tourism prospects in Bermuda.

“This is the new normal, and we are not going back again. We must continue to build on this and the passing of legislation to allow rental minicars in Bermuda is a really positive development.”

Over the course of his three years at the helm of the BTA, Mr Hanbury as well as his salary have come in for harsh criticism from Opposition MPs.

But, he insists he did not take any of the insults personally. “I am not vindictive,” he said.

“It’s always been about getting the job done for me. I did not lose a second’s sleep over the criticism, I knew we were going in the right direction.”

Asked if he felt it was “mission accomplished” as he prepared to leave the BTA, he replied: “Not yet. We still need to get more done; we need to focus on continuing to grow this product and improve air arrivals and hotel occupancy.

“We cannot be satisfied with where we are.”

Mr Hanbury’s last day in the CEO’s chair will be January 6, while his Bermudian succeccor Kevin Dallas, will start work officially on January 9.

After helping to oversee the transition, Mr Hanbury will return home to upstate New York with his wife, Valerie.

“I’m going to be doing some consulting work for a couple of destinations; none of them competitors to Bermuda,” he said.

“I’m not looking forward to shovelling snow, but I am looking forward to sleeping in, once in a while.

“I will miss the BTA and Bermuda; it’s been a real honour and I have been blessed to wake up every morning and put people to work knowing it will have an effect on the island.”

He added: “I have no regrets at all. We have accomplished great things.

“There is no destination in the world that has grown faster than us recently.”