Valletta bags increased Costa calls in 2020Valletta bags increased Costa calls in 2020

The announcement was made on aboard Costa Fascinosa in Valletta this week for 32 round trip Malta cruises operated from late March to early November 2020.

Costa Cruises is a long standing caller to Valletta bringing over 474,000 passenger movements on circa 200 calls between 2014 and 2018.

A return after four years

Stephen Xuereb, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port and COO of Global Ports Holding, commented, ‘We are pleased that after an absence of four years, Costa will be re-introducing calls in Q3 of 2020. This means that in 2020, we will be welcoming around 110,000 passenger movements aboard a total of 37 calls as compared to 38,000 passenger movements aboard 18 calls in 2019.’

The Hon. Konrad Mizzi, Minister for Tourism highlighted that the cruise industry positively impacts the local economy, being comprised of a cluster of activities and subsectors.

Vision 2025

More than 800,000 passenger movements are expected be hosted by Valletta Cruise Port in 2019.

He highlighted that the Ministry together with the participation of stakeholders is actively working on a ‘Vision 2025’, a new strategy for the tourism industry including the cruise sector, which will be finalised by end of year.