We would like to thank all of our customers over the past busy summer getaway weekend for adhering to our travel advice.  Importantly, by arriving at the port no more than 2 hours before their sailing, with a confirmed booking and sticking to the main routes (A20 and A2) to the port, this has really helped as part of a package of successful measures for the first key weekend.   

Police aux Frontières (PAF) performed extremely well, maximising their resourcing as required throughout, including the crucial additional resource needed for the new border positions that we have recently added for the summer following widespread concerns after May Half Term. 

The Entry Exit System is a new EU border regime, and as such carries uncertainty as to the effects it may have on British holidaymakers travelling to Europe as it continues to be rolled out.  We are very pleased that the first weekend went so well and we were able to facilitate 100,000 customers with a positive start to their well-deserved summer holidays. 

With the enduring popularity of France for British families across the nation, the unlimited luggage, open deck spaces, shortest sea crossing, plenty of sailings throughout the day and reassurance that if customers miss their sailing the ferry operators will simply put them on the next available one at no extra cost, the Dover ferry product remains highly attractive.   

This is why it is so important that all stakeholders from the port to the ferry operators, the Kent & Medway Resilience Forum and border authorities and governments keep working to ensure that travelling by ferry to Europe through Dover remains smooth throughout the summer. 

And that is why we will be preparing in earnest once again with all of our partners for the upcoming weekend, which will be our busiest of the whole summer.  Let’s all continue working together to ensure local communities remain clear of disruption, trade continues to flow and everyone can start their holidays well. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port. 

• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers. 

• Dover is also an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to over 20 cruise lines each year. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a new marina which is a major feature of the exciting waterfront development, and opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.