Passenger traffic between Malta and Gozo this year reached an all-time high, with over 3.6 million commuters using the ferry service in the first nine months of the year.

This figure is even higher than the total for the entire year for 2006 and the years preceding it, according to data published yesterday by the National Statistics Office.

Figures show that between January and September, there was an increase of 229,000 commuters who used the Gozo Channel service. As expected, the peak month was August when 543,475 passengers crossed the channel.

The increase in patronage was registered across the board, with the most pronounced being in January when the number of passengers was up by 14.4 per cent over the previous year.

During the first nine months of the year, a total of 15,110 trips were made – an increase of 252 over the first three quarters of 2013. The number of vehicles carried by scheduled vessels increased by 81,714 and stood at 980,253.

In a statement, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis hailed the positive results, and said the government was committed to take measures to strengthen tourism to Gozo. This would generate more quality jobs in Gozo, the minister said.