2006 tourism statistics released

Premier Ewart Brown has revealed a pretty impressive set of tourism statistics for 2006. Total visitor arrivals were 641,717, up 23.2% on the figure for 2005. 298,973 visitors arrived by air (up 10.9%), 336,299 by cruise ship (up 36.0%) and 6,445 by yacht. Hotel occupancy rates rose to 63.8%, compared to 56.9% in 2005.