In March 2009, cruise passenger traffic amounted to 5,053, a decrease of 1,113 passengers over the corresponding month in 2008. Embarkations from and landings in Malta stood at 17 and 19 persons respectively.

January-March 2009

Total cruise passenger traffic in Malta amounted to 31,813, an increase of 20,990 compared to the same quarter last year, with the absolute majority being passengers in transit. Passengers from EU countries accounted for 58.0 per cent of total traffic, the main markets being Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. American cruise passengers represented 64.8 per cent of non-EU incoming passengers.

On a gender basis, male passengers exceeded female ones by 2.0 per cent. The largest proportion of passengers – 48.5 per cent – comprised persons aged between 60 and 79, followed by those in the 40 to 59 age bracket, who accounted for 29.0 per cent of the total.

Average number of passengers per cruise

The average number of passengers per cruise liner, which is defined as the number of cruise passengers divided by the number of cruise liner calls, increased to 2,121 passengers per vessel for March. There were three cruise liner calls in March, bringing the total for 2009 to 15 compared to six calls last year.

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