Cruise passenger traffic in the second quarter increased by 5.7 per cent to 123,364, compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office.

The NSO said there were 89 cruise liner calls in the period this year compared to 80 last year.

Transit passengers accounted for the vast majority of traffic (96.5 per cent), reaching 119,033. Around 55 passengers visited Gozo, while 6,183 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise.

Visitors from EU states accounted for 73.7 per cent of traffic, with the major markets being Italy, France and the United Kingdom. The total number of passengers from non-EU countries stood at 32,492, of which 37.9 per cent came from the United States.

On a gender basis, female passengers accounted for 53.1 per cent of the total. The largest share of passengers fell within the 60-79 age bracket, followed by those aged between 40 and 59.

Cruise passengers in the first half of 2014 stood at 161,502, a rise of 15.8 per cent over 2013 levels. Of these, 78.2 per cent came from EU states. The highest increases were recorded from the French and Italian markets, which advanced by 13,772 and 5,886 passengers, respectively.

Female passengers numbered 85,535, and were in the majority. Most of the cruise passengers were between 60 and 79 years old, amounting to 72,274. These were followed by passengers aged 40-59, totalling 46,103.

There were 112 cruise liner calls in the first six months this year, with an average 1,442 passengers per vessel, compared to 93 calls and an average 1,499 passengers per vessel in the first half of 2013.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis welcomed the figures.