Total cruise passenger traffic in April amounted to 37,787, an increase of 605 passengers over the same month in 2006. Embarkations from and landings in Malta stood at 575 and 559 persons respectively, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

Total cruise passenger traffic between January and April amounted to 57,666, an increase of 1.7 per cent over the same period last year. Same-day visitors from EU countries accounted for 90.9 per cent of total traffic, the main markets being Germany, France and Italy.

On a gender basis, total traffic was almost on a par. The largest proportion of passengers – 35.8 per cent – comprised persons aged between 60 and 79 years, followed by those in the 40-59 years age bracket who accounted for 32.2 per cent of the total.

In April, cruise liner calls decreased by nine when compared to the same month in 2006.

Total calls for the first four months of the year numbered 50 compared to 63 in the corresponding period of 2006.