VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Cruise passenger traffic in Malta fell by almost 23% during the first quarter of 2026, despite an increase in cruise liner calls at the Grand Harbour, according to new data published by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Between January and March, total cruise passenger traffic reached 65,247, marking a 22.9% decline compared with the same period in 2025.
The NSO said the majority of passengers recorded during the quarter were in transit.
A total of 33 cruise liner calls were registered in the first three months of the year, two more than in the corresponding period last year.
Despite the rise in vessel arrivals, the average number of passengers per ship dropped sharply.
Each cruise liner berthed in Malta carried an average of 1,977 passengers, down by 752 from a year earlier.
Italy remained Malta’s largest cruise source market, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
