Cruise passenger traffic in October increased by 3.8 per cent over the same month last year.

The National Statistics Office said that cruise passengers who were in transit amounted to 55,558 whereas those landing in Malta totalled 1,584. Passengers fell mostly in the 60-79 age bracket and stood at 24,401, followed by those in the 40-59 age group.

Female passengers surpassed males by 2,058 and totaled 30,401.

On average there were 1,399 cruise passengers per vessel.

Of total passengers, 45,201 came from EU countries, mainly from Italy and France, whereas those from non-EU countries amounted to 13,543.

A substantial decrease in the American market was the cause of a 3.4 per cent drop registered in the non-EU market.

Maltese cruise passengers stood at 574, 75.6 per cent less than 2009.

The total number of cruise passengers between January and October numbered 418,561, up by 13.9 per cent when compared to last year.

This increase was mainly devoted to a substantial increase in the EU-market, especially Italy and France. Non-EU passengers amounted to 82,391, 9.8 per cent less from 2009. Total cruise liner calls during this 10-month period stood at 232.