Passengers making Gozo crossing exceed 800,000 in three months

The number of passengers crossing between Malta and Gozo increased by 2.2 per cent to a total of 803,131 between October and December when compared to the same period in 2007, said the National Statistics Office yesterday.

The number of vehicles carried by the ferries rose by five per cent, totalling 235,321.

However, the number of trips numbered 4,712, a drop of 0.6 per cent in relation to October-December period in 2007. The highest number of trips was recorded in October, with 34.4 per cent, or 1,623, of the total throughout the three months.

Overall, last year the number of trips operated by Gozo Channel increased by 1.3 per cent, or 257 trips, over 2007 with the number of vehicles carried rising by five per cent or 51,053.

The highest number of trips was recorded in August, with almost 10 per cent, or 1,992. August, which coincides the Santa Maria feast "invasion", also saw the highest number of vehicles and passengers being carried: 121,271 and 486,128 respectively. Throughout the whole year, Gozo Channel ferried a total of 3,554,714 passengers between Malta and Gozo.