The Port of Dover is gearing up for a significant surge in activity as the summer holiday season kicks off, anticipating one of its busiest weekends. This increase in travelers coincides with the implementation of new European Union border procedures, raising concerns about potential delays for those heading to mainland Europe.
As schools across England and Wales commence their summer breaks, thousands of vehicles are expected to transit through Dover. French border officials will be manually registering non-EU travelers due to delays in automated processing equipment, part of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). Although this phase will not include the collection of biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs, the manual registration process is likely to extend processing times and could lead to congestion at the port.
Motoring organizations have cautioned that traffic may be heavy on major UK roads, particularly around London and on routes to the southwest, as many people begin their summer travels. With favorable weather, concerns about flight disruptions, and rising travel costs, a significant number of travelers are choosing domestic holiday destinations.
The Port of Dover has advised passengers to follow designated routes and to arrive no more than two hours before their scheduled ferry departure to manage the expected influx efficiently. Meanwhile, airport operators and airlines have also alerted travelers to the possibility of delays as the peak holiday travel period gets underway, urging passengers to plan accordingly.