Ferries are "back in vogue"

Ferry travel is back in vogue, holidaymakers have been advised by one industry expert this week.

Travel website World First reports that the Port of Dover is experiencing increasing volumes of traffic passing through its gates as people ditch planes for boats.

Mike Southey, a public relations manager of the Port of Dover, told the website: "We think [ferry travel] is regaining popularity after a period of a few years when there seemed to be a small shift towards airline journeys.

"It's very much a smoother and easier passage through a seaport than an airport."

He added that the convenience of ferry travel prompted more than 15 million passengers to pass through the Port of Dover in December last year.

Furthermore, passenger figures for January 2008 at the port were 1.1 per cent stronger than the same month in 2007, despite the credit crunch.

Earlier this month, Campaign for Better Transport, noted that many people are cutting back on their flights in order to cut their carbon footprints when heading abroad and opting for green methods of transport.