In recent weeks, VISET Malta has pursued its business development efforts to attract more cruise ships to Malta in 2011 and beyond, the company said this week.

Positive results are already being registered, it said, and while still receiving bookings, it is expecting a positive 2011.

Similarly, VISET Malta is also expecting to close 2010 with higher passenger movements compared to 2009.

Passenger movements since January this year show a 14 per cent increase over the same period last year, and the increase in cruise passenger movements in October 2010 supports VISET Malta’s optimism for this year’s performance.

In the meantime, on a single day this week, five cruise ships berthed in the Port of Valletta carrying a total of around 3,700 passengers. At an average spending rate in Malta of €60 per passenger, and including the crew, the combined passenger and crew contribution to the local economy in one day is estimated at around €250,000.

“We operate in a highly dynamic and competitive industry. Ports in different countries compete against each other to attract cruise liners. Our projections for 2011 are positive and as encouraging as the results for 2010 have revealed,” said VISET Malta CEO John Portelli.

VISET is continuing its investment programme to support an industry that, since 2005, has generated around €250 million to the local economy and is a source of direct and indirect employment to hundreds of households in the Maltese Islands.

VISET Malta wishes to register its appreciation of the local agents, the Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Malta International Airport and Transport Malta all of whom are constructively in partnership with VISET to further develop the cruise sector in Malta.