It is not generally known, but only around two-thirds of cruise liner passengers who come to Malta go ashore.

This, it seems, is par for the course. And a visit to a cruise liner at the Valletta Waterfront on Thursday, soon explained why.

The Voyager of the Seas entered Grand Harbour at around noon. It was at around 2pm that the first passengers began to exit the ship, in temperatures well above 40°. They faced an uphill climb to Valletta with next to no shade in the streets, and, without their knowing, most of the shop owners enjoying their siesta.

Although the coaches were soon filled, while other crowds filtered out into the sunshine and the heat, many, many others stayed aboard. There they could enjoy the air-conditioned bedrooms or loll around the swimming pool.

This, VISET CEO Chris Paris said, is par for the course or perhaps even better than when the ships dock at Civitavecchia where they again have just five hours ashore and need an hour and a half just to get to the centre of Rome. Besides, most ships insist on giving their passengers a full meal at noon, and it is only those who are determined who disembark.

Having said that, and with the proviso that the figures mentioned for cruise liner passengers are those for all passengers on board the ships, rather than those who disembark, 435,000 passengers are expected this year, a 10 per cent increase over last year. And next year looks to be another successful year with around 480,000 passengers expected.

Arrivals have been augmented with Sky Wonder, from Pullman Tours, which will come, after a break of some years, 21 times with some 29,000 passengers. Another addition is a cruise liner from Norway.

As regards the catamaran to Italy, operated by Virtu Ferries, Mr Paris said this has shown a 27 per cent increase over last year, due to the added capacity of the new catamaran, San Frangisk, with the possibility of carrying some 600 passengers a day.

Mr Paris reported that there has been a sensible improvement in the transport situation, due to strenuous efforts by ADT and the police as well as the cooperation of the taxi drivers and karozzin owners.

But VISET has asked for the relocation of the 198 bus stop, which, though frequent, has tourists waiting in blinding sun and queuing in such numbers as to risk accidents. VISET would like to relocate the bus stop to a more shady and reserved place but so far this has not proved possible.

VISET looks forward to seeing the new open deck bus service ply by the quayside after so many years of discussions, since this could prove to be a winner.

However, Mr Paris could also report on some new services already on offer.

Just outside the VISET marina there is the seaplane operated by Harbour Air, which offers to take cruise liner passengers on short trips around the island.

And, on the other scale of technology, there are the traditional dghajsas, now being operated by Explore Malta, for harbour cruises with the help of an audio guide.

Mr Paris also made the following announcements:

• Regional Strategy: VISET has teamed up to form a consortium bidding for the redevelopment of the port of Larnaca in Cyprus and is preparing another bid for Tunis.

• New tenants: Vaults 1 to 6 have now been converted into outlets and two are already open; the rest will open in the coming weeks offering visitors a complete gourmet experience.

Following an explanation by Professor Edward Scicluna on the economic impact of cruise liners in the country’s economy, in which Prof. Scicluna said there is a high level of satisfaction. However, of the 350 signed responses to a questionnaire, only 100 were positive and most of the negative mentioned the dirt and neglect they saw around.

Mr Paris, replying to questions, implied that VISET has given up on the Customs House lift as this is too far away from VISET. As for the steps promised over the Power Station roof, which would link the seafront to the middle of Crucifix Hill, this issue is still being studied considering its sensitivity.

Mr Paris finally said he hoped that there would not be another recurrence of the episode when containers prevented a cruise liner from berthing at the Deep Water Quay. He said this was a mistake due to “short-sightedness” and the issue seems to have been settled.