Bermuda's tourism comeback continues. According to recently released report, money spent by visitors on tourism-related goods and services in Bermuda rose 15% in 2006 when compared to 2005.

Visitors spent $448.7 million while in Bermuda in 2006 as compared to $391.1 million in 2005. That's an increase of $57.6 million. That's real money and it shows that the PLP government's successful tourism efforts are paying off.

Whenever we mention Bermuda's undeniable tourism comeback, the naysayers in the opposition scoff. They try their best to draw false distinctions in the hopes that the public will think that tourism is in decline. That conclusion couldn't be further from the truth.

In the end, regardless of how visitors are classified, what matters is Bermuda's bottom line. And, according to this most recent report, the amount of money being spent in Bermuda is on the rise. That's money that goes into our economy. That's money that creates jobs. That's money that goes toward funding programmes to help Bermudians. Those numbers are a sign of real tourism success.

Premier Brown noted, "Although we spend a lot of time focused on arrival numbers, the total expenditure number is perhaps the most important figure because that money goes directly into the pockets of hotel workers, restaurant employees and taxi drivers – the people who keep the tourism industry going.

"So for them, the people on the front lines of tourism, 2006 was a good year because they earned more.

"If that isn't proof of a tourism industry on a comeback I don't know what is."

We don't either. And, according to the report, it's the efforts by your PLP government that is driving the tourism comeback. The report's authors say "increased advertising off-Island, the introduction of additional routes from low-cost carriers, and a record number of cruise ship arrivals all combined to provide a much-needed injection of tourism dollars to the Island in 2006."

These advances have been made in the past three years under the current Minister of Tourism and Transport, Premier Ewart Brown.

On December 18th, let's keep the tourism comeback going!