Cruise line industry faces encouraging future - de Marco

Bookings for Mediterranean cruises in 2009 have matched this year's, a positive sign suggesting that the cruise industry could weather the international economic crisis, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco said.

He was addressing a press conference in which he announced that Malta won the Destination of the Year 2008 award by Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards.

Despite the financial recession affecting countries from where Malta gets most of its tourists, the government was confident that the tourism industry could weather what Dr de Marco described as "the perfect storm".

He said the government planned to step up marketing and destination promotion efforts in Germany, France and Italy and in such emerging markets as Dubai and Russia while also focusing on opening more air routes to Malta, increasing its accessibility as a holiday destination.

The government would also be investing considerably in tourism-related structural projects, pumping €120 million to improve the tourism product over the next three years.

Seatrade Insider is an organisation specialising in the organisation of prominent fairs and conferences for the cruise liner industry in places such as Miami and Venice. It also issues a publication recognised as being among the most authoritative in the industry.

The award that Malta won after being nominated by the Cyprus port authority acknowledged the fact that Malta was among the first destinations to recognise the importance of cruising in the Mediterranean in the winter months, Dr de Marco said.

A record 500,000 cruise passengers visited Malta so far this year and this was projected to rise to 540,000 passengers by the end of the year, representing a 12 per cent growth over last year.

The success in the industry was the result of considerable investment, he noted, acknowledging the work and investment put in by Valletta Waterfront operator Viset to attract more cruise liners to Malta.

Given the importance the cruise industry has for Malta, more would be done to help the industry grow and a €400,000 fund will promote Malta as a cruise and stay destination, Dr de Marco said.

The fund will be set up by Viset, the Malta Tourism Organisation and Malta International Airport.

Viset itself will be investing €2 million to improve existing quays, enabling it to accommodate larger cruise liners which Dr de Marco said will be calling at Grand Harbour in the New Year. A buoy will be installed in Xlendi, Gozo, to allow cruise ships to moor there.