Cruise passengers in September reached 80,048,17.7 per cent more than in the same month last year.

The National Statistics Office said 45 cruise liner calls were recorded.

Decreases were noted the number of embarkations (-36.5 per cent) and disembarkations (-34.1 per cent), but transit passengers advanced by 34.3 per cent.

In absolute terms, cruise passengers in transit numbered 69,564, and constituted the absolute majority of cruise passenger traffic.

Cruise passengers between the age of 60 and 79 comprised the largest proportion of passengers (39.3 per cent) followed by visitors in the 40-59 age group (33.5 per cent).

Cruise passengers from EU states totalled 61,148, the majority from Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy - 17,568, 11,966 and 11,775, respectively.

The highest increase in passengers was registered in the British market, which almost quadrupled when compared to the corresponding month last year. In contrast, the Italian market dropped by 26.2 per cent.

Cruise passengers from non-EU countries reached 18,900, an increase of 44.8 per cent over last year. This upward shift was mainly brought about by a substantial increase in the American market.

Cruise passenger traffic for January to September numbered 473,658, an increase of 13.7 per cent over the cumulative period last year. A total 81.6 per cent were from EU states.

In all, there were 238 cruise liner calls in the first three quarters, each carrying an average of 1,990 passengers.