Bermuda minister of tourism David Allen has reported a 26% increase in UK visitors to the island to 35,000 for 1998.
Final figures for December have not yet been released but Allen said he expected the total for the year to be around the 35,000 mark. Figures up to the end of November were almost 33,000.
He said the main focus for the island’s tourism strategy would be targeting short breaks to the Island and two-centre holidays taking in cities like New York, Boston and Toronto.
Allen unveiled the country’s new tourism policy to agents and operators at Bermuda’s third annual Marketplace event at central London’s Berkeley Hotel last week. The two-day exhibition was attended by 31 Bermudan suppliers. This year, Simply Travel, Distant Dreams and Peregor have added Bermuda to their programmes.
Allen said last year’s $400,000 UK tourism budget would be increased for 1999/2000. He was unable to say what the new figure would be as the budget is set later this month.