The number of cruise passengers coming to Malta increased by 11.7 per cent last year over 2009, reaching 491,000, according to latest official statistics.

In December more than 24,000 visitors arrived on cruise liners, a rise of 19.8 per cent over the previous December, the National Statistics Office said.

The majority of passengers last month were aged between 60 and 79, followed by those aged 40 to 59.

Most were from EU countries, with the majority of European passengers coming from the UK, at 3,950. Americans topped the list of non-EU passengers visiting Malta, standing at 6,558.

Twelve cruise liners stopped in Malta last month carrying an average of 2,000 passengers each.

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