Despite the economic hardship in the United States, air arrival figures for August 2008 are the best August performance in at least a decade save the blockbuster August numbers in 2007.

August air arrivals fell 1.2%. There were 37,441 air arrivals in August 2007. There were 37,007 air arrivals in August 2008.

The 434 visitor decline is less than anticipated.

“We expected a double-digit percentage decline given the economic downturn in the United States last month that ultimately developed into a full-blown economic crisis,” said Premier Dr. Ewart F. Brown, Minister of Tourism and Transport. “We never like to see a decline, but one percent is a bit of a relief – especially following August 2007, a hugely successful month for the industry.”

Air arrivals from the United States declined 9%, but air arrivals from Canada and the United Kingdom were up 32.2% and 16.2% respectively. Visitors from Europe overall were up 53.3%.

The overwhelming majority of visitors to Bermuda are from the United States.

The number of business travelers during the month of August 2008 was up 63.7% compared to the same month in 2007. However, the year-to-date business traveler tally is on par with 2007, a 3.7% increase so far. The number of travelers said to be in Bermuda on vacation in August 2008 fell 9.2% year over year and the number of leisure travelers visiting friends and family fell 6.7%.

Also of note, the number of air visitors staying in private homes rose 46.1% and the number of visitors in commercial properties dropped 17.3% in August 2008 versus August 2007. The average length of stay in commercial properties was up slightly to 5.31 nights.