As the summer holiday season kicks off, the Port of Dover is bracing for one of its busiest weekends of the year, with a significant influx of travelers expected amid concerns over potential delays due to new European Union border procedures. With schools across England and Wales closing for summer, the port anticipates thousands of vehicles passing through as families and individuals head to the continent for their vacations.
French border officials will be manually processing non-EU travelers under the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) this weekend. This step comes as automated processing facilities are not operational yet due to technical delays. Although the collection of biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs is not part of this phase, the manual registration is still anticipated to slow down processing times, potentially causing congestion at the port.
Beyond the port, motoring organizations have issued warnings regarding expected heavy traffic across major UK roads, particularly around London and routes heading to the southwest. This potential gridlock is attributed to millions setting off on summer leisure trips. Many are opting to stay within the UK, motivated by favorable weather forecasts, concerns over possible flight disruptions, and escalating travel expenses abroad.
Travelers heading through the Port of Dover have been advised to stick to designated routes and to arrive no more than two hours before their ferry departure to help manage the flow of traffic. Meanwhile, airport operators and airlines have also cautioned passengers to prepare for potential delays as the peak holiday travel period unfolds, adding another layer of complexity to the busy travel season.