Total cruise passenger traffic in Malta amounted to 1,398 in January 2007, a decrease of 4,153 or 74.8% passengers when compared to the same month in 2006. In January 2006, 5,551 passengers had arrived in Malta.

In its findings, the National Statistic Office (NSO) said that a distinction between total departures and total traffic was not made since embarkations from and landings in Malta were nil in January this year.

During the first month of 2007, only one cruise liner called in Malta, compared to four in January 2006.

Most of the passenger traffic in Malta last month was from Germany, with 447 Germans arriving in Malta’s grand harbour.

In turn, most cruise passengers, a total of 766, were found to be aged between 60 and 79.