Bermuda Tourism Authority Interim CEO Glenn Jones joined hosts Eron Hill and Ryan Robinson Perinchief for Bernews’ fifth episode in a special series about the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BTA recently announced that the “Covid-19 crisis had a severe impact on Bermuda’s tourism industry in the first quarter of 2020, causing unprecedented declines in the island’s visitor arrivals and spending.”
“Total air visitor arrivals were down 38% in the first quarter compared to a year ago, with leisure air visitors down sharpest at 43.5%. While air vacationers spent more per person, leisure air spending recorded a drop of 38% in Q1 due to lower volume—dipping from $32 million last year to just $19.8 million in 2020. Cruise passenger arrivals fell 41.8% on low winter season volume,” the BTA said.
“In line with closures elsewhere, Bermuda’s seaport and airport stopped receiving regularly scheduled commercial service after March 20 to protect public health and safety amid the global pandemic. The number of Bermuda visitors began to slide prior to the border restriction as travellers cancelled reservations, on-island events were postponed, and corporate bans on non-mandatory business travel took effect. A cruise ship call slated for March was also dropped.
“Year over year, air visitor declines of this magnitude are unparalleled in Bermuda’s modern history and they reflect the devastating impact Covid-19 is having on our tourism industry,” said BTA Interim CEO Glenn Jones. “This year’s second quarter is even more worrying, as the return dates of regularly scheduled air and cruise travel to Bermuda remain unknown.”
The series takes place every Tuesday and Thursday, and is streaming on Bernews Facebook page, YouTube channel and Twitter account during the afternoon, and and everyone is welcome to contribute ideas, topics, guest suggestions, or concepts as we move forward, as the aim is to have a community discussion.
