1125+ web files in a constantly updated compendium on Bermuda's business, culture, cuisine, customs, districts, economy, education, food, geography, government, history, internet access, laws, parishes, politics, religions, traditions, wildlife etc. For tourists, business visitors, employers, employees, newcomers, researchers, retirees, scholars. Funded by and linked to The Royal Gazette, Bermuda's only daily newspaper.

Bermuda Online Travel & Tourism Guide

A comprehensive, accurate and exclusive introduction to our Atlantic Islands

By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online

To refer to this file use "bermuda-online.org/tourism" as your Subject. 

Excluding private, unlicensed premises, Bermuda has 47 official guest accommodation properties comprising hotels, guesthouses and cottage colonies and about 134 restaurants.

The Bermuda Government says it is "focused on attracting quality visitors" (those with incomes above $150,000). Bermuda saw a record breaking number of visitors to the Island in 2007. Bermuda had 663,767 visitors, an increase of 3.44 percent from the 641,717 visitors who arrived in 2006. Total air arrivals reached a 7 year high with 305,548 visitors arriving on island in 2007, up 2.2% from the 298,973 visitors in 2006. An Airport Exit Survey showed that the estimated total air visitor expenditure had risen by approximately $50 million. Hotel occupancy was also up, although there were 245 less beds in 2007 due to hotel closures. Bermuda's PR agency Corbin & Associates estimated that the total value of coverage in international media was worth approximately $16 million.

Tens of millions of dollars are being invested in new hotels across the Island, with projects under way at Newstead Belmont Hills, Fairmont Southampton, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Coco Reef, Tucker's Point and Ariel Sands. The former Wyndham resort is to become the Southampton Beach Resort, while Club Med, Lantana, and the Golden Hind properties are also earmarked for redevelopment. Bermuda is anticipating the arrival of luxury brands St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton and Jumeirah.

However there is growing concern that the business traveler is bolstering the arrivals numbers and that too much emphasis is being placed on the traditionally lower spending cruise ship passenger. Bermuda's largest customer segment is the business traveler, at 50-60 percent, driven by international companies on the Island. But with the arrival of low cost carriers out of Boston and New York, such as JetBlue, Bermuda has seen improved hotel occupancy levels, with many people coming here for a leisure weekend. In guest houses, 2007 was a booming year. Occupancy went gone up dramatically. It's the first time in 20 years most properties were full all summer. This is the best year Bermuda has ever had, and the airlines with the lower cost fares had a lot to do with it.

In January 2007, the World Bank confirmed Bermuda has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the world. The Island’s total GDP – the market value of all the goods and services produced – rose by 9.1 percent in 2005, driven upwards chiefly by the expansion of the international business sector. Bermuda’s total GDP was estimated at $4.857 billion – or $76,403 per head. That puts Bermuda at the top of the GDP per capita global league table, with second-placed Luxembourg more than $10,000 behind. In comparison, the US had a GDP per capita over the same year of $41,600, Canada $33,900 and the UK $30,100. 

See details about all tourism accommodation properties in Bermuda.