During the fourth quarter of 2023, sea transport between Malta and Gozo registered increases in passengers, vehicles and trips when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022, data published by the National Statistics Office on Tuesday showed.
Between October and December 2023, a total of 10,185 trips were carried out, carrying a total of 1,612,813 passengers. October was the busiest month recording a total of 3,784 trips or 37.2 per cent of total trips for the quarter.
A total of 1,440,644 passengers travelled between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa during the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 9.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022. The highest number of passengers was recorded in October – 544,654 or 37.8 per cent of the total for the quarter. When compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the number of vehicles increased by 3.2 per cent, totalling 500,723.
The number of trips during the fourth quarter amounted to 8,513, a decrease of 4.2 per cent over the same period in 2022. October registered the highest number of trips – 3,118 or 36.6 per cent of total trips for the quarter.
During January-December 2023, 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 highest on Sundays and Mondays.