Malta will become a home port for two Costa Cruises ships next year as Costa Favolosa and Costa Classica will be leaving and ending their cruises from the Valletta Sea port.

Malta will also be able to attract passengers from Russia and Cyprus to fly to Malta. It is estimated that Costa will up its 170,000 visiting passengers by a further 10,000 next year, as it will be calling in Valletta more often and with bigger ships. 

Tourism Minister De Marco said that Costa brings about 22 per cent of cruise liners that visit our islands. He noted that cruise passengers in August had increased by 45 per cent when compared to August last year.

Between January and August there had been an overall increase of 45,000  passengers when compared to 2011 with 393,000 visiting Malta on cruise liners last year. 

Dr de Marco said the increases were very encouraging as this industry was “not easy”.

“Economic turmoil has impact on distances and destinations travelled by cruise liners,” he said. He was also highlighted the importance of the increase in the flight-cruise concept which allowed passengers to combine a cruise with a land based holiday.

Orange Travel group which Michael Abele, commercial director of Orange Travel Group said that next year Costa will be offering more family planned rates and there will be substantial reductions for a family made up of two adults and two children.

Cruising is fast growing around the world, he said: “With people who go on a cruise once, there s a 98 per cent chance that they'll go again another time.

Costa has the largest fleet in Europe with 14 ships carrying about 40,000 guests. Costa Favorita, Costa’s most luxurious vessel, is the largest ship carrying the Italian flag.