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Tourism officials in Malta are expecting to have seen a record number of cruise passengers visiting the country this year.

Malta's tourism minister, Francis Dimech, has predicted a good turnout and forecasts that around 400,000 people will have disembarked in the capital Valletta by the end of the year, reports the Times of Malta.

Speaking at the European Tourism Forum in Cyprus, Mr Dimech revealed that cruise passenger traffic on the island had increased by 35.5% in the first nine months of 2006.

He also said that the number of ships passing through had increased greatly compared to 2005, with an additional 32 calls made this year.

'2007 is expected to be an even better year and, based on cruise liner calls already confirmed for next year, an increase in visitors of 10% is anticipated,' he said.

It was also revealed that the increase in cruise tourists was mainly due to more visitors from Italy, the US, Germany, Spain, the UK and France.

The cruise figures are a welcome boost for the Mediterranean island which has seen overall visitor numbers fall by 12,000 during 2006 compared to last year.

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