Expectations for the cruise liner industry were “good”, and 2011 could “possibly” turn out to be the best year yet, said tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco, while advocating caution in a volatile tourism sector.

Despite a drop in cruise passengers in the first four months, June was the “best ever”, bringing 74,000 visitors – an increase of 60 per cent – and meaning the first six months were on a par with last year, with 200,000 arrivals.

Dr de Marco said each passenger spent around €60, which translated into a yearly spend of about €35 million.

He stressed on the importance of adapting the infrastructure to cater for ships that carried four times as many passengers as they did in 1999, adding that the necessary investment was being made.

The parliamentary secretary was speaking aboard MSC Fantasia, which yesterday brought to Malta’s shores the protagonists of the popular, Italian, reality-TV show, Grande Fratello.

On a seven-day cruise, they stopped off in Malta, one of the ports of call, to visit the island, he said of the marketing exercise and indirect promotion.

Italy was Malta’s second largest source market, with arrivals doubling from 100,000 in 2007 to 230,000 last year, he said.

MSC Crociere was always at the forefront of themed cruises, including Milan players and supporters, and from next year, the Napoli fans can sail with their football team, said Norman Hamilton, managing director of Hamilton Travel, local MSC representatives.

The company has just been appointed general sales agent for MSC also for Cyprus and intends to bring passengers from Turkey, Greece and Hungary to start their cruise from Malta from next year.

“Malta is becoming more and more relevant as a port from where cruises can start and finish,” said Valletta Cruise Port CEO John Portelli.