Cruise ship arrivals down 7.3% last month
A total of 22 cruise ships called at Grand Harbour last month, bringing 51,526 passengers, a drop of 7.3% from August last year.
Viset, the cruise terminal operator, said the drop was largely attributable to the decision by one of the cruise lines to follow a different Mediterranean itinerary to that of last year.
The number of passengers who arrived in Grand Harbour since the beginning of the year stands at 298,409 compared to 240,822 registered during the first eight months of 2009, an increase of 24 per cent on last year.
"The expected improvement in business in 2010, when compared to 2009 strengthens Viset's resolve to pursue its business development whilst at the same time promote the Port of Valletta and Malta as a safe, reliable and emerging key cruise destination in the Mediterranean," the company said.
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R Axisa
Sep 10th 2010, 21:47
Is this part of the economic growth we heard of lately?
N.Farrugia
Sep 11th 2010, 12:54
No, Mr.Axisa, the economic growth is seen through the 24 % increase registered during the first eight months of the year!! 58,000 more tourists is more than encouraging to us but for moaners like you, a negative month is all you need to criticise. Very soon we'll see Marie Louise Coleiro Preca' s prress release, crying crocodile tears about the August statistics!
A. Zahra
Sep 11th 2010, 13:13
Have you not noticed. We are in deep recession. What with soaring unemployment: its 10% +in the US, 20% in Spain, 10%+ in the UK and 6%- in Malta; cuts in social benefits as in the UK, Greece, Spain, France etc, but none in Malta, a blooming deficite as in the US, Britain, Greece, Spain, France, Italy etc and a diminishing one here, outgoing travel up, acute shortage of tables at all eateries, car imports down- sorry up. You are so very right. This government gets nothing right. It should emulate the UK, Fance, Italy, Spain and the US and trim social benefits and all goodies the state here provides louts like ourselves.
Roland Jefferies
Sep 10th 2010, 19:13
I don't get this, sometimes inbound tourists are up and now they are telling us are down, its like playing Russian Roulette, i wish they make up their mind.