As the summer holiday season kicks off, the Port of Dover is bracing for one of its busiest weekends, with a surge in travelers heading to the continent. This influx coincides with new European Union border procedures that may extend waiting times. With schools across England and Wales starting their summer break, thousands of vehicles are anticipated to pass through the port.
Currently, French border authorities are tasked with manually registering non-EU travelers due to a delay in the automated processing facilities of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) caused by technical issues. Although this phase does not require the collection of biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs, the manual process is expected to slow down processing times, potentially leading to congestion.
Alongside the port challenges, motoring organizations have predicted heavy traffic on major UK roads, particularly around London and those leading to the southwest, as millions embark on summer vacations. Many are choosing domestic destinations, influenced by favorable weather forecasts, concerns over possible flight disruptions, and rising travel costs.
To manage the anticipated congestion, the Port of Dover has advised travelers to stick to designated routes and to arrive no more than two hours prior to their scheduled ferry departure. Airports and airlines are also alerting passengers to prepare for possible delays as the peak holiday travel season unfolds.