Cruise embarkations double in July

Total cruise passenger traffic in Malta during last month rose marginally, with a drop in passengers in transit being offset by increases in embarkations and landings, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

The total cruise passenger traffic increased by 0.4 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Passenger departures, including persons travelling in transit and those embarking from Malta, dropped by 2.8 per cent. However, this reflected a 6.7 per cent drop in passengers in transit, primarily due to a drop in passengers of Spanish residency, as embarkations more than doubled compared to the same month a year ago.

Passenger landings also doubled during the month, primarily reflecting an increase in Maltese passengers.

During the January-July period, cruise passenger traffic in Malta rose by 17.7 per cent over the first seven months of last year.

Passenger departures increased by 16.2 per cent, mainly reflecting an increase in passengers in transit of 21,161 persons. This was accounted for by passengers residing in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and the United States. Embarkations from Malta went up by 2,357 persons during the period.

Passenger landings more than doubled in the first seven months. The increase in embarkations was partly reflected in higher landings by Maltese passengers, although landings by persons residing in the UK and in the US rose significantly as well.

The number of cruise liners calling at Malta dropped by three last month, bringing the total for January-July period to 164, up by nine over the same period last year.