| This year when the recession started to hit the | | | | to the Malta economy. The number of jobs in the |
| travel industry, Malta produced a sizzling set of | | | | Malta docks is significant, and the success of |
| figures from her cruise ship arrivals for 2008. | | | | attracting cruise line passengers is a very |
| Another record, and for the first time breaking | | | | welcome success for the dockers given the |
| through the 500,000 cruise ship passenger arivals | | | | current economic uncertainty. |
| figure. | | | | Overall the Malta tourist industry could be taking |
| And the tourist numbers are so encouraging that | | | | quite a hit in 2009 with mainland Europe and the |
| the Malta authorities are to launch a new | | | | United Kingdom being in recession, and less people |
| marketing campaign to encourage even further | | | | taking holidays abroad, and despite low cost flights |
| the cruise industry to use the Mediterranean island. | | | | to Malta visitor numbers will probably be down in |
| At the moment Malta is one of the top | | | | 2009 - but with Malta hoping to boost visitor |
| Mediterranean cruise stopovers, with most | | | | numbers via the cruise ships the island could do |
| passengers spending a day or half day in Malta, | | | | better than other island holiday destinations. |
| and because of the lack of time only seeing the | | | | If cruise passengers do opt to spend a little time |
| capital Valletta or the historical city of Mdina on an | | | | on Malta, they will likely find it an enriching |
| organised tour, and missing ninety per cent of | | | | experience. Malta is also very rich in history, with |
| what Malta has to offer visitors. | | | | some artefacts pre-dating Egypt's pyramids. |
| But now Malta wants to go a step further, and | | | | History buffs will enjoy the variety of treasures |
| instead of being just another - albeit an historic | | | | and artifacts on display in Malta's museums. Many |
| and important - stopover, she wants to be the | | | | of Malta's historic churches still stand and are used |
| most likely island in the Mediterranean where | | | | for worship today. |
| cruisegoers would start their trip. | | | | For the tourist wanting a more modern look at |
| And what would be the benefits? | | | | the island, they will find Portomaso well worth a |
| For a start cruise passengers would be flying to | | | | visit - Portomaso is a 31 acre waterfront |
| Malta instead of another start point, quite possibly | | | | development with upmarket housing, clubs and |
| using a Malta airline, and often staying in one of | | | | exciting activities. The primary goal of the |
| the Malta hotels for the night before boarding ship. | | | | developers of Portomaso was to become one of |
| Malta estimates that the cruise ship industry | | | | the most prestigious locations in Malta. |
| brings some 40 million Euros into the Malta | | | | There's a lot to see and do in Malta, and hopefully |
| economy each year, and for an island with a | | | | cruise passengers will have a little extra time for |
| population of 300,000 it's an important contribution | | | | Malta and her history. |