According to data from the National Statistics Office today, a total of 2,749 cruise passengers visited Gozo during the third quarter of 2016, this is down by 2,507, or 47.6% on 2015, when the number of passengers was 5,256. From January to September 5,223 cruise passengers visited Gozo, down by 2,419, or 31.6% on the same period last year, when the figure stood at 7,642.

On a national basis, total cruise passenger traffic during the third quarter of 2016 amounted to 208,786, an increase of 5.5 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

During the third quarter there were 106 cruise liner calls, 4 more than last year. At 85.5 per cent, transit passengers accounted for the vast majority of total traffic, reaching 178,545. While 9,185 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise liner.

Visitors from EU Member States comprised 80.0 per cent of total traffic, the major markets being Italy, Germany and France. The total number of passengers from Non-EU countries stood at 41,694, of whom 30.7 per cent came from the United States.

On a gender basis, female passengers made up 53.0 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 448,641, a rise of 5.8 per cent over 2015. Of these, 75.8 per cent came from EU Member States. The biggest increases were recorded from the French and Spanish markets, which advanced by 12,669 and 11,800 passengers respectively.

Female passengers numbered 239,080 and were in the majority. Most passengers were between 40 and 59 years old, amounting to 149,809. These were followed by passengers aged 60-79, reaching 148,987.

There were 231 cruise liner calls during the first nine months, with an average 1,942 passengers per vessel, compared to 219 calls and an average 1,935 passengers per vessel in January-September 2015.

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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