Nearly 2 million passengers travelled between Malta and Gozo during third quarter

During the third quarter of 2023, sea transport between Malta and Gozo registered increases in passengers, vehicles and trips when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.

Between July and September, a total of 11,840 trips were carried out, carrying a total of 1,977,673 passengers. "July was the busiest month recording a total of 4,073 trips or 34.4% of the total trips for the quarter," the NSO said.

A total of 1,711,887 passengers travelled between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa during the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 7.6% when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022. The highest number of passengers was recorded in August – 597,290 or 34.9%

of the total for the quarter. When compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the number of vehicles increased by 1.6%, totalling 580,346, the NSO said.

"The number of trips during the third quarter amounted to 9,203, an increase of 0.7% over the same period in 2022. July registered the highest number of trips – 3,104 or 33.7% of the total trips for the quarter."

"During January-September, passenger traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, and vehicle traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was also busiest on Fridays and Saturdays. On the other hand, from the Mġarr terminal, passenger traffic

was busiest on Sundays and Saturdays, while vehicle traffic was heaviest on Sundays and Mondays."

During the third quarter of 2023, a total of 2,637 trips were carried out, carrying a total of 265,786 passengers, it said. "When compared to the same quarter in 2022, the number of trips increased by 14.9% and the number of passengers increased by 33.5%. July registered the highest number of trips – 969 or 36.7% of the total trips for the quarter, while August registered the highest number of passengers – 96,202 or 36.2% for the quarter," the NSO said.