Increase in cruise liner calls, passengers during third quarter

Total cruise passenger traffic during the third quarter of 2015 amounted to 197,984, an increase of 26.3 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

There were 102 cruise liner calls during the third quarter, 11 more than last year. At 82.6 per cent, transit passengers accounted for the vast majority of total traffic, reaching 163,624. Around 5,256 passengers visited Gozo, while 4,353 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise liner.

Visitors from EU Member States comprised 77.1 per cent of total traffic, the major markets being Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and France. The total number of passengers from non-EU countries stood at 45,341, of whom 30.7 per cent came from the United States.

On a gender basis, female passengers made up 52.0 per cent of the total. The largest share of passengers were in the 40-59 age bracket and were followed by those aged between 60 and 79.

During the first nine months, total cruise passengers stood at 423,861, a rise of 33.2 per cent over 2014. Of these, 76.4 per cent came from EU Member States. The biggest increases were recorded from the Italian and German markets, which advanced by 23,503 and 21,258 passengers respectively.

The majority of total passengers were females, amounting to 221,432. Most passengers were between 60 and 79 years old, amounting to 153,856. These were followed by passengers aged 40-59, reaching 140,462.

There were 219 cruise liner calls during the first nine months, with an average of 1,935 passengers per vessel, compared to 203 calls and an average of 1,568 passengers per vessel in January-September 2014