27.3% increase in cruise passenger traffic in 2015

Total cruise passenger traffic during the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to 176,295, an increase of 15.0 per cent over the corresponding period in 2014.

There were 88 cruise liner calls during the fourth quarter, 12 less than the previous year. At 94.7 per cent, transit passengers accounted for the vast majority of total traffic, reaching 166,989. Around 2,226 passengers visited Gozo, while 5,308 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise liner.

Visitors from EU Member States comprised 74.5 per cent of total traffic, the major markets being Italy, Germany and France. The total number of passengers from Non-EU countries stood at 44,965, of whom 26.9 per cent came from the United States.

On a gender basis, female passengers made up 53.1 per cent of the total. The largest share of passengers were in the 60-79 age bracket and were followed by those aged between 40 and 59.

Total cruise passengers for 2015 stood at 600,156, a rise of 27.3 per cent over 2014. Of these, 75.8 per cent came from EU Member States. The biggest increases were recorded from the Italian and Spanish markets, which advanced by 35,274 and 18,894 passengers respectively.

The majority of total passengers were female passengers, amounting to 315,010. Most passengers were between 60 and 79 years old, amounting to 220,619. These were followed by passengers aged 40-59, reaching 196,775.

There were 307 cruise liner calls in 2015, with an average 1,955 passengers per vessel, compared to 303 calls and an average 1,556 passengers per vessel in 2014.