Cruise line itinerary change leads to drop in visitors

A total of 51,526 passengers visited Malta on 22 cruise liners last month, marking a 7.3 per cent drop in arrivals compared to the same month last year.

Viset, the company that operates the cruise passenger terminal at Valletta Waterfront, said the main reason behind the drop was a cruise line’s decision to follow a different Mediterranean itinerary this year.

A total of, 298,409 passengers arrived in the January-August period, up by over 50,000 over the figure registered in the same period last year, equating to a 24 per cent increase.

Viset said 24 cruise liners berthed at the terminal in July, with a combined total of 48,731 passengers on board.

It said passenger volumes were expected to increase by 10 per cent during the final three months of this year over the same period in 2009.