Record 900,000 cruise passenger movements celebrated at Valletta Cruise Port

Valletta Cruise Port, operator of the sea passenger terminals and Valletta Waterfront and a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding has welcomed a record 900,000 cruise passenger movements.

A lucky recipient, who arrived in the Port of Valletta aboard the MSC Grandiosa, was the designated 900,000th passenger and given the opportunity to return to Malta in the near future with a 2-day break in Malta inclusive of flights for two persons, courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority. Throughout the couple’s stay, accommodation will be provided by The Victoria Hotel situated in the heart of Sliema, a classic hotel that honours the Victorian style but is also modern and sophisticated.

Stephen Xuereb, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port and COO of Global Ports Holding said, “This is indeed a momentous day. We are celebrating an exceptional year for Valletta Cruise Port culminating in a record number of cruise passenger movements, with over 900,000 passenger movements passing through our terminals within year-end. Together with local stakeholders we have worked relentlessly towards achieving this target and to ensure its sustainability in the future. Our focus remains to deliver a quality product and an excellent service coupled with strategic planning.”

“Cruise lines and their passengers often describe Malta's Grand Harbour as one of the most beautiful ports in the world and this is possibly the best introduction that first-time visitors to our Islands can enjoy to Malta's rich history and heritage. The Malta Tourism Authority is very pleased with the results being achieved in the Cruise sector, a sector that is very important to the economy of Valletta especially and also to a wide range of tourism service providers. In addition to the direct benefits of spend by cruise visitors in our Islands, surveys confirm that a high percentage of those that visit Malta for the first time on a cruise ship, often return to our Islands for a holiday within two or three years of first visit.” said Carlo Micallef, Deputy CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Valletta Cruise Port, a top port-of-call and a thriving homeport strategically located in the central Mediterranean, is anticipating closing the year 2019 with record passenger movements of approximately 906,000 passenger movements aboard 373 calls. Valletta Cruise Port has become one of the top 14 port of calls in the Mediterranean. Homeporting calls are also on the increase and now comprise circa 31% of its operations in 2019 as compared to 22% in 2018.

2020 will be an important year for Valletta Cruise Port, with plenty of exciting things in store in terms of improving and sustaining core operations. From a maritime perspective, works will be starting on Quays Pinto 4-5 in November 2020. With this development Valletta Cruise Port is looking at a more attractive and secure operation, without the need for the spacer barges currently in use on these quays.

Valletta Cruise Port is also in the process of implementing an Environmental Risk Management System (ERMS). The environmental and conservation policy is in compliance with ISO 14001:2015, a baseline requirement for almost all national and international “green port” accreditations.

Additionally, from a local perspective Valletta Cruise Port shall be enhancing the Valletta Waterfront destination through the embellishment of the waterfront, investing in excess of €2mn to install new outside canopies that will not impact on the visual of the historical vaults and adding other aesthetic touches that should give the area the attractiveness that it merits.