Cruise passenger traffic amounted to 5,279 in December 2006, bringing the total for the year to 408,046, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

December 2006

Total cruise passenger traffic in Malta decreased by 3,357 persons in December 2006 when compared to the same month a year earlier, reflecting passenger departures (persons travelling in transit and those embarking from Malta) and passenger landings in Malta.

In December 2006, there was a 39.0 per cent drop in passengers travelling in transit, with major decreases attributable to passengers of Italian, German and French residency. Embarkations from and landings in Malta were negligible during this month.

January-December 2006

Cruise passenger traffic in Malta increased by 27.4 per cent in 2006. Passenger departures increased by 26.4 per cent, mainly reflecting an increase in passengers in transit of 78,137 persons.

For the most part, this increase was reflected in passengers residing in Italy, Germany, Spain, the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Embarkations from Malta went up by 4,611 persons during the year.

Passenger landings increased by 70.7 per cent during the period under review. The increase in embarkations was partly reflected in higher landings by Maltese passengers, although landings by persons residing in the United Kingdom rose significantly as well.

The number of cruise liners calling in Malta remained unchanged in December 2006, bringing the total for the year to 356, up by 29 over 2005.