Increase registered in passenger, vehicle crossings between Malta and Gozo

More people and vehicles crossed between Malta and Gozo in the fourth quarter last year.

The National Statistics Office said that when compared to the same period in 2008, commuters between Malta and Gozo increased by 2.8 per cent, totalling 825,755.

The number of vehicles carried by scheduled vessels went up by 3.3 per cent, totalling, 243,136.

October was the month which saw the most commuters - 324,647 or 39.3 per cent of the total.

The number of trips in the fourth quarter stood at 4,713 almost at par when compared to the corresponding period in 2008. The highest number of trips was recorded in October -1,644 or 34.9 per cent of the total number of trips for the period under review.

On an annual basis there was a drop in the number commuters and trips but increases in the number of vehicles making the crossing.

The number of trips decreased by 44 or 0.2 per cent over 2008, the number of commuters by 149,695 or 3.8 per cent over the previous year. The total number of vehicles carried between Malta and Gozo in 2009 increased by 5,124 or 0.5 per cent compared to 2008.

Most trips were also performed in August - 1,962 or nearly 10 per cent of the total trips. This month also saw the highest number of vehicles and commuters carried between the two islands - 120,491 and 463,693 respectively.