The cruise liner industry in Malta is facing a “challenging” year after two vessels had decided to decrease their number of port calls, Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella warned yesterday.
Addressing travel agents, journalists and other guests aboard the luxurious Costa Favolosa, Mr Vella said the Government was hoping to lure back the liners by 2014.
Stephen Xuereb, the Valletta Cruise Port chief financial officer, later confirmed that MSC Cruises and AIDA Cruises had both discontinued their weekly port calls due to hikes in fuel prices.
Last year, MSC Cruises alone brought over 160,000 cruise ship passengers to Malta, a figure that is expected to drop to 30,000 this year.
The minister said the Government would also be working on improving the berthing facilities of the Pinto 4 and 5 wharfs to decrease congestion on one side of the port.
It will also be giving importance to the cruise business in Gozo by relocating the buoy in Xlendi.
Mr Vella also said that temporary gaming licences will be issued, which would allow cruise ships berthed in Malta to open their casinos, a decision which has already been approved in Parliament.
Last year, Malta received 322 cruise liner calls, bringing over just under 2,000 passengers on each call. Eighty per cent of the passengers sailed in from Europe, mainly Germany, Italy, France, the UK and Spain. The US, Canada, Australia and Canada were the biggest markets beyond the continent.
The industry has registered increases from all markets, apart from some declines from the US and Italian market. Two-thirds of the passengers are over the age of 40.
“Each and every Government gives the sector the importance it deserves,” Mr Vella said.
“The 600,000 passengers who visited our shores last year were all given a first taste of Malta.
“After their initial first visit, some passengers become repeat visitors, opting to return to Malta as a separate holiday.”
Despite the challenges brought about by last year’s Costa Concordia disaster, the Costa group ended hosting 2.2 million people worldwide in 2012.
The Costa Classica and the Costa Favolosa are the two Costa ships that will be calling at the Valletta Cruise Port this year.
The Costa Favolosa is scheduled to operate 35 calls in a season extending until November, and is expected to bring over 145,000 passengers to our shores.
Orange Cruises executive commercial director Michael Abele said that, despite the current crisis facing Cyprus, a lot of Cypriots were expected to be holidaying in Malta this year.