Bermuda seems to have turned the corner in its post-pandemic travel rebound, according to the newest data released by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. 

The island’s leisure air arrivals were up 88 percent in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year; that included a sizzling 296 percent increase in travel out of the Canadian market. 

Visitor spending is also up by nearly 68 percent compared to last year, while hotel occupancy has jumped 16.9 percentage points to 45.6 percent in the first quarter. 

It all points to a light at the end of the tunnel for Bermuda, which had some of the strictest health protocols in the hemisphere during the pandemic, something that meant a far longer climb to recovery in the long term. 

“We’re delighted to see the incremental growth in our Q1 tourism numbers, which is a testament to the island’s ongoing recovery, and the organization’s sales and marketing efforts,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Tracy Berkeley. “While there is still work to be done, we are confident that our continued focus on raising awareness of the destination will ensure that Bermuda becomes a top consideration for future travelers.” 

So what’s the outlook for the island? 

According to Bermuda Tourism Authority Chief Operations Officer Erin Smith, air capacity is up to 62 percent of pre-pandemic levels , and air visitor numbers rebounded to a 64 percent recovery from 2019. 

“The recovery of tourism and growing tourism’s contribution to the economy continues to be the BTA’s top priority,” she said. “We expect to see greater growth in Q2 as airline schedules increase further.”