BTA Releases Q2 and Mid-Year Tourism Metrics
[Hamilton, Bermuda – August 17, 2026] – The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) today released visitor statistics for the second quarter of 2026, providing a mid-year snapshot of performance across air, cruise, accommodations and maritime measures. Behind the numbers is a deliberate strategy: diversify where visitors come from and grow what each visitor contributes. Every destination is chasing higher-value travel. Bermuda's mid-year results show it happening — and show the benefit landing with Bermuda businesses.
Air Visitors & Spending
Air visitor spending grew 5.9% in Q2 to $148.9 million, outpacing arrival growth of 0.9% to 68,298 visitors. Average spending per air visitor rose 4.9% to $2,180. Year-to-date, air arrivals reached 97,724 (+2.5%), while air visitor spending climbed 7.9% to $204.6 million and per-person spending increased 5.1% to $2,094 — more value from broadly the same number of arrivals. That is yield, and it is the most important indicator in this release.
Canada & UK Growth, Business Travel & Events
Canadian and UK air arrivals grew 13.5% and 9.9% respectively in Q2, and 18.9% and 13.7% year-to-date — early evidence that the strategy is paying off. That growth did what it was designed to do: offset softening in the US market, where air arrivals were down 3.1% in Q2 and 2.5% year-to-date. The US remains Bermuda's largest source market and its performance matters. The difference now is that a soft quarter in any one market no longer sets the trajectory for the year. Business travel was a standout performer: Q2 business arrivals rose 9.3%, with estimated business visitor spending up 42.7% to $32.1 million; year-to-date, business visitor spending is up 36.4% to $51.8 million. Major events including SailGP and the Newport Bermuda Race drove strong sporting-event visitation and yacht arrivals, with yacht passenger arrivals up 46.1% year-to-date.
Cruise & Total Leisure Visitation
Cruise arrivals increased 10.1% in Q2 and 11.5% year-to-date, helping lift total leisure visitation by 8.1% in Q2 and 9.2% year-to-date. That visitation supports retail, watersports, attractions and transport operators, particularly in Dockyard and St George's.
Accommodation Performance
Hotels reported strong gains, with Average Daily Rate (ADR) up 10.0% and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) up 10.9% in Q2. Year-to-date, ADR rose 8.9% and RevPAR increased 7.6%, while hotel bed nights rose 3.9% and vacation-rental occupancy increased 4.8%. Rate, not volume, is doing most of the work here — and that revenue is what funds reinvestment in Bermuda's hotel product and the jobs that come with it.
Air Capacity
Seats sold increased 2.1% year-to-date even as total air capacity remained essentially flat (+0.1%), with the load factor rising to 75.7% in Q2 and 70.9% year-to-date, pointing to stronger utilization of existing air service. Fuller aircraft strengthens the commercial case Bermuda takes to airlines and are the foundation for the new routes and added capacity the island is working to secure.
Every visitor in these numbers is money moving through a Bermudian business — a hotel shift, a dinner booking, a charter, a shop sale. The BTA's job is to grow that impact and to make sure it is wide-reaching.
Jan Hutton, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said, “Every destination is chasing value over volume. Bermuda can show it in the numbers. Spending is up faster than arrivals, rate is up, business travel is up, and growth from Canada and the UK means we are no longer asking one market to carry the year. I won't pretend the work is done. The US market needs attention, and there is more value to unlock in what visitors do once they are here. But this is a positive half-year result and the direction is right. None of it counts unless it reaches the people who live here. That's where my focus stays.”
For the full Q2 tourism performance measures report, click here.