Cruise passenger traffic up 66.4% in second quarter of 2015

Cruise passenger statistics published today for the period April – June 2015 show a very healthy growth of 66.4% when compared to the same period last year. The number of cruise liners calling in the Maltese Islands also grew from 89 calls in April to June 2014 to 108 calls in the same period this year.

This results in a cumulative 39.9% increase for the first six months of year when compared to January to June 2014.

"Malta’s cruise sector is once again on a growth curve particularly as a result of a number of positive initiatives, foremost amongst which is the performance of the MSC and Costa lines with more regular calls and larger ships together with the extended season of the TUI home-porting operation from Valletta harbour," the Malta Tourism Authority said in a press statement.

The positive performance of Q2 2015 translated in the increase of 81,860 cruise passengers to reach a total of 205,224 cruise passengers for the three months. 

In the period under review, the second quarter of 2015, impressive growth has been particularly registered from a number of important markets, namely Germany (+ 333.4% or 38,268 more passengers), Italy (+49.7% or 11,134 more passengers) and Spain (+337.4% or 7,045 more passengers).  

Smaller markets such as the Australian (+84.1% or 3,067 more passengers), the US (+10.3% or 1,272 more passengers) and the Japanese market (+272.7% or 1,017 more passengers) have also featured healthy double digit increases.

MTA CEO Paul Bugeja stated, “Apart from the immediate benefits of cruise passengers’ spending in Malta’s economy particularly in Valletta and Grand Harbour business communities, the fact that such a large number are visiting our islands for a few hours allows us to showcase what Malta can offer and address many misconceptions that anybody who does not know Malta today, may have. Many of these day visitors tend to come back to our shores for a longer holiday shortly after visiting.”

Cruise line companies costumer surveys confirm that Malta is a strong selling point for their itineraries and cruise planners are choosing to include Malta and Gozo for the smaller ships, in line with customers requests and interests.