The post you are reporting:
Quote: "Over the last ten years there has been a steady decline in the number of cars (ie tourists) using Dover."
Although car figures are marginally lower than ten years ago, the Port of Dover figures show a steady increase since 2004, attributed to tourists abandoning the low cost airlines due to all the delays at the airports and the restrictions on luggage. Much more importantly, freight has increased exponentially and freight is the lifeblood of the ferries.
This year has shown a downturn in all categories of traffic - up until the channel tunnel fire since when freight and coach figures have increased spectacularly. It now appears that the damage to the tunnel is much greater than that sustained in the 1996 fire and may take six months to repair. What the future holds, with the financial meltdown, who can say?
Quote: "The addition of a route to Boulogne, with a large capacity, has to be good news for the ferries and, hopefully, good news for Dover."
Good news for Dover. A full freight, tourist and footie service to Boulogne. Also the possibility of a daily service to Dieppe next year, and potentially to Ostend some time in the future.
Bad news for the existing ferry companies. May be the last straw for SpeedFerries and will take a great deal of traffic from P&O and SeaFrance. Norfolk Line may be relatively unaffected, running to Dunkerque. Their carryings have increased this year as opposed to the general decrease.
