Steady stream of passenger arrivals forecast for next year

The cruise line industry is looking forward to another steady stream of passenger arrivals next year as another 12 months of successes are forecast.

Viset’s chief executive officer, John Portelli said next year was expected to be more or less the same as this, despite the tougher competition as more ports joined the market.

According to official figures, traffic rose by 50 per cent over last year in the first six months of this year, in a period during which cruise passengers are estimated to have spent a whopping €26 million while ashore.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who visited the facilities at Valletta Waterfront yesterday, attributed the rise in arrivals to the good working relationship between the government and the private sector, pointing out that €37 million had been invested in the waterfront by the private sector to the benefit of both tourists and locals.

However, he said, challenges still lay ahead and he urged all stakeholders to continue with their hard work to ensure the waterfront’s continuous success.

Dr Gonzi’s visit coincided with the arrival of two cruise liners which he boarded with the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco.