Cross channel ferries benefiting from French tourism boom

Cross channel ferries are carrying an increasing number of French passengers to the UK as tourists from the eurozone flock to take advantage of the low value of the pound.

The exchange rate situation could lead to an almost twofold increase in the number of French visitors to the UK this year, the Times reports.

Brian Rees, head of public relations for P&O Ferries, told Times Online that bookings for ferry crossings from Calais to Dover were up eight per cent in January compared to the previous year.

He added: "Colleagues at our check-ins say there are certainly more French and Belgian registration plates coming through. Also, I was in Canterbury at the weekend and the amount of French being spoken was far more noticeable than I'm used to."

Seafrance cross channel ferry services were also in strong demand over the Christmas period and into January as French tourists used their strong currency to see the sights in south-east England and London.

Times Online cites government figures showing that the increase in French visitors began in the third quarter of 2008, when tourist numbers climbed to 1.03 million, compared to 816,000 in the same period in 2007.