Cruise passengers rise by 10 per cent

An estimated 435,000 cruise passengers are to visit Malta this year, marking a 10-per-cent increase over 2006 - already a record year with 394,567 passengers, Viset Malta plc general manager Chris Paris said yesterday.

The 2007 figures are expected to be 60 per cent over those for 2004, which was considered a bad year, following the loss of Malta's tax-free status on joining the EU.

Meanwhile, in the first six months of the year, the performance of the ferry passenger service, with daily connections to the Sicilian ports of Pozzallo and Catania, went up by 27 per cent over last year, proving to be "quite popular" with both the Maltese market and tourists.

The cruise passenger figures showed that what Viset promised in December 2006 was, in fact, being delivered, Mr Paris said, addressing the second editors' briefing, held on board the Voyager of the Seas at Valletta Waterfront. "It is now evident that Viset plc has managed to rebuild the interest in Malta's cruise industry, following the 2004 loss of its main competitive advantage prior to EU membership."

The year 2004 was a bad one, with only 269,714 passengers arriving on cruise liners, but the loss has now been recovered, Mr Paris said.

In 2005, the Malta cruise industry recovered 43,897 passengers over the 2004 figure; and in 2006, the recovery improved by a further 80,956 passengers, or 124,853 passengers over 2004.

"Bearing in mind that other ports in the Mediterranean are also improving their infrastructure and services, the recovery has been achieved in the face of stiff competition," Mr Paris said, adding that Viset always believed that the port of Valletta has other more sustainable features, apart from a tax-free incentive. These are helping it to compete and appeal to cruise operators.

However, it was essential for the stakeholders to work towards a common goal - satisfying cruise passengers and cruise operators, Joshua Giordimaina, from Viset's marketing department, said.

This year has seen the return of Pullmantur to the port of Valletta, with its cruise liner MV Sky Wonder, following an absence of four years, he said, listing the frequent callers and adding that the majority of cruise operators in the Mediterranean region have used Malta's port infrastructure as part of their itinerary.

Bookings for 2008 were steadily flowing in. However, it was still too early for Viset to announce the percentage increase, although it expressed confidence that 2008 would be another successful year.

Norwegian Cruise Lines would be making their first visits to the port of Valletta on a weekly basis next year, operating the Norwegian Gem.

Transportation, considered to be a key factor in the success of the Valletta Waterfront and the port of Valletta, has improved since the scheduled bus service was set up last December, during which time it carried over 50,000 passengers.

The taxi operation was also "doing well", and the White Taxi Association was collaborating with both Viset and the authorities to improve its service, Mr Paris said, pointing out the physical constraints of the sites, which still pose a challenge.

Viset augured that the introduction of the sea cabs and water taxis would be concluded quickly, while the company was also looking forward to other modes of transport, namely the trackless train, for which, it said, the government was considering a tender process.

With regard to the introduction of new services, this month, Viset welcomed the launch of the seaplane and felt it could be further exploited by introducing it as an air excursion.

"We also look forward to the inter-harbour ferry vessels stopping by at the Valletta Waterfront," Mr Paris said.

Viset has teamed up with other specialised companies, forming a consortium headed by DJK Ltd of Cyprus, for the tender bid for the redevelopment of the port of Larnaca, in Cyprus.

The company is also in the process of opening new food and beverage outlets in the last stretch of vaults on the Waterfront's promenade, having received expressions of interest from foreign operators. It has managed to conclude negotiations with two of them for two of the outlets, Mr Paris said.