Total cruise passenger traffic during the fourth quarter of 2016 amounted to 177,441, an increase of 0.7 per cent over the corresponding period in 2015, the NSO said.

Cruise Passengers: Q4/2016

During the fourth quarter there were 85 cruise liner calls, 3 less than previous year. At 94.4 per cent, transit passengers accounted for the vast majority of total traffic, reaching 167,437. A total of 1,707 passengers visited Gozo, while 8,101 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise liner.

Visitors from EU Member States comprised 71.0 per cent of total traffic, the major markets being Italy, Germany and France. The total number of passengers from Non-EU countries stood at 51,532, of whom 35.7 per cent came from the United States.

On a gender basis, female passengers made up 53.7 per cent of the total. The largest share of passengers were in the 60-79 age bracket and were followed by those aged between 40 and 59.

January-December 2016

Total cruise passengers for 2016 stood at 626,082, a rise of 4.3 per cent over 2015. Of these, 74.4 per cent came from EU Member States. The biggest increases were recorded from the French and US markets, which advanced by 17,610 and 15,131 passengers respectively.

Female passengers numbered 334,369 and were in the majority. Most passengers were between 60 and 79 years old, amounting to 221,929. These were followed by passengers aged 40-59, reaching 204,792.

There were 316 cruise liner calls in 2016, with an average 1,981 passengers per vessel, compared to 307 calls and an average 1,955 passengers per vessel in 2015.