Viset Malta, the operator of Valletta Waterfront and the Valletta Cruise Terminal said 2008 has been a record year in four different yet complementary sectors: cruise passenger arrivals, passengers making use of ferry services to Sicily, maiden calls by new cruise liners and new companies which set up shop at the waterfront.

“The performance of the cruise industry sector this year has exceeded all our expectations,” said Viset Chairman Joseph Zammit Tabona, during an end-of-year address to clients and suppliers.

“The past year was an exceptional one for cruise tourism in Malta, and we at Viset are at the forefront of this dynamic industry. Our target of reaching half a million passengers has been comfortably exceeded with a total of 540,000 turnout, an increase of some 12 percent on the previous year.”

The ferry service to Sicily also registered an increase of 12 per cent over last year’s figures, to the credit of the main operator, Virtu Ferries, as well as to the other two operating lines, Motorways of the Seas and Grimaldi, Mr Zammit Tabona said.

New cruise liners coming to Malta included the Norwegian Gem, MSC Musica, MSC Poesia, the Navigator of the Seas and the Queen Victoria.