A total of 1,021,615 people travelled between Malta and Gozo in the fourth quarter of last year, up 13.4 per cent on the corresponding period in 2012.

The rise was partly attributed to the free travel weekend in November and the live crib village in Għajnsielem over Christmas, according to the National Statistics Office.

The highest number of commuters was recorded in October: 389,513, or 38.1 per cent of the total for the quarter.

The number of vehicles carried by ferries increased by 15.5 per cent, totalling 287,872.

On an annual basis, 2013 saw increases in the number of vehicles and commuters crossing the channel.

Overall, commuters increased by 302,576, or 7.4 per cent, over the previous year, while the number of vehicles went up by 94,170, or 8.6 per cent.

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