The last ten years have seen a consolidation of the Port of Valletta as a major port of call for cruise liners in the Mediterranean. Recent annual figures have reached record levels with over 200 cruise liners, carrying more than a quarter of a million passengers, visiting the Port of Valletta.

The majority of passengers on cruise liners came from the USA, Britain, Germany and France, reflecting the main cruise markets worldwide.

These trends continue to emphasise the high quality of vessels calling in Malta. In fact, most of the cruise liners visiting the ports of Malta are in the de luxe and super de luxe classes. Throughout the years there has also been an increased interest in using Malta as a hub port. Recently, analysts have placed Malta among the top ten base ports in the Med and Northern Europe.

Pinto Wharf, which is within walking distance of the city of Valletta, is a cruise vessel dedicated stretch of over 700 metres, providing simultaneous handling of at least four passenger vessels.The depth of water along these quays ranges between nine and twelve metres.

Other berthing facilities are also available at anchorage areas both inside and outside Maltese ports. Moreover, the island of Gozo is becoming an attraction for small specialised cruise liners.

Special emphasis has been placed on security according to international standards.

The increased interest in Malta as a cruise hub has induced the government to privatise passenger handling services. This will include the construction of sea passenger terminals and an intensive marketing strategy which, as increasing turnaround operations seem to indicate, is having the desired results.

The Valletta International Sea Terminal, VISET Malta plc has been awarded a contract for the construction and operation of Malta's new cruise liner terminal and ferry passenger terminal. The project, which will be called the Valletta Waterfront, will include a large waterfront shopping and leisure complex housed in a series of 18th century buildings known as the Pinto and Forni Stores. These buildings have considerable architectural and historical value and will be fully restored and rehabilitated.

A large portion of the reclaimed land in front of these buildings will be excavated to re-establish the buildings' original siting at the water's edge, creating a water plaza that would serve as the focal point for the whole development.

Quayside and ferry operations are on-going whilst development works are in hand and are expected to be completed in 2005.