News Releases

Cruise Passengers: Q1/2024

NR 083/2024
Release Date: 07 May 2024

Total cruise passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2024 amounted to 76,562, an increase of 6.4 per cent over the same quarter of last year.
Cruise,At,Sunset,In,Ocean

There were 19 cruise liner calls during the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 2 when compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Transit passengers accounted for the absolute majority of total traffic, reaching 73,372 (95.8 per cent). On average, every vessel that berthed in Malta carried 4,030 passengers, 602 more than the previous year (Table 1). 

Passengers from EU Member States comprised 62.7 per cent of total traffic. The major markets were Italy, accounting for 28.4 per cent of the total passengers, followed by Spain, with 11.3 per cent. The total number of passengers from Non-EU countries stood at 28,584, of whom 21.9 per cent came from the United Kingdom and 14.5 per cent came from the United States (Table 1).

On a gender basis, female passengers made up 52.4 per cent of the total. The largest share of passengers fell within the 40-59 age bracket (32.4 per cent) and were followed by those aged between 60 and 79 years (25.9 per cent) (Table1).

Chart 1. Total cruise passenger traffic

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Methodological Notes

1. The data in this release is compiled on the basis of administrative records supplied by Transport Malta.
 
2. Cruise liners calling at both Malta and Gozo during a single voyage are recorded as one cruise liner call.
 
3. The majority of passengers embarking on cruise liners from Malta generally end their trip at the same destination. Embarkations are therefore not included in total traffic figures, in order to avoid double counting. This measure was adopted as from News Release no. 079/2013, dated 23 April 2013. The referred news release also includes figures for 2011 and 2012.
 
4. For clarity, embarkation figures for the period under review are being provided:
Embarkations 2022 2023 2024
January-March 1,735 3,701 3,172

5. Definitions:
 
  • Cruise passenger traffic: comprises transit passengers and passengers who land in Malta.
  • Embarkations: comprise all cruise passengers who are either Maltese or who are foreigners who arrive in Malta by other means of transport.
  • Transit passengers: comprise all cruise passengers who arrive in and leave Malta on the same cruise ship.
  • Landed passengers: comprise all cruise passengers who arrive in Malta on a cruise ship and leave by other means of transport, or alternatively, stay in Malta.
  • Passengers staying overnight: comprise passengers who spend at least one night in the Maltese Islands, either onboard the cruise ship or on land.
  • Average number of passengers per vessel: computed by dividing total cruise passenger traffic by the number of cruise liner calls.
 

6. A detailed news release calendar is available online.

7. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately. For guidance on access and re-use of data please visit our dedicated webpage.

8. For further assistance send your request through our online request form.

Cruise Passengers: Q1/2024  

NR 083/2024
Release Date: 07 May 2024

Cruise,At,Sunset,In,Ocean
  • Total cruise passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2024 amounted to 76,562, an increase of 6.4 per cent over the same quarter of last year.
  • There were 19 cruise liner calls during the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 2 when compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
  • Italy and Spain were the top two EU markets for the first quarter of 2024.
  • In the first quarter of 2024, the largest share of passengers fell within the 40-59 age bracket (32.4 per cent).

Cruise Passengers: Q1/2024

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