Catch cheap ferries to avoid rising flight tax

Holidaymakers can catch cheap ferries this year to avoid being hit by rising air passenger duty (APD), which was recently described as a "huge hindrance" to tourism in the UK.

Philip Green, the chairman of travel trade association UKinbound, criticised the government's implementation of APD and called for a delay to the new tax system set to come into effect later this year.

Speaking at a convention in Manchester, Mr Green warned that increasing the flight tax paid by overseas visitors to the UK could negate the effect of the weak pound.

"Air passenger duty adds so much to the cost of a long-haul arrival that any reduction in the currency value will be wiped out," he said.

"And when the currency is not in our favour the APD is a huge hindrance. It's some £560 in economy class for a family of four coming from a long-haul destination."

People travelling to the UK from Europe or Ireland can ensure they take full advantage of the strength of their currency by catching cheap ferries to avoid paying a tax on air travel.

Stena Line is one of the operators that will be offering cheap ferry travel this year. The company launched a sale last month offering lower fares on its routes from Holyhead to Dublin, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Fishguard to Rosslare.