In the last quarter of 2011, the National Statistics Office figures show that sea transport between Malta and Gozo registered a decrease in vehicles and commuters, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2010.

In the fourth quarter last year, commuters between Malta and Gozo edged down by 0.3 per cent, totalling 886,839 when compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. Concurrently, the number of vehicles carried by scheduled vessels went down by 3.5 per cent, totalling 247,093. At 343,616, October saw the biggest number of commuters, making up 38.7 per cent of the total for the quarter.

The number of trips in the period under review stood at 4,694, a decrease of 0.5 per cent over the corresponding period of 2010. The majority of trips took place in October – 1,600 – or 34.1 per cent of total trips for the quarter.

On an annual basis, 2011 saw a growth in the number of vehicles and commuters between Malta and Gozo, while there was a decrease in trips. Overall, the number of trips went down by 147, or 0.7 per cent, over 2010. The number of commuters increased by 93,451, or 2.3 per cent, over the previous year, and the total number of vehicles carried between Malta and Gozo went up by 11,906, or 1.1 per cent.

August retained the trend observed in previous years with the biggest number of trips – 1,968 , or 9.9 per cent of total trips. For 2011, August also registered the largest share of vehicles and commuters between the two islands – 125,840 and 488,389 respectively.

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