Partner Article

Tourist route boosts ferry profits

A North East ferry company is celebrating after seeing an increase in passenger numbers throughout 2009.

Despite the UK travel industry experiencing a turbulent 12 months, DFDS Seaways has bucked the trend with an increase in passenger numbers of 10%, with 531,000 people travelling on the Newcastle to Amsterdam route in 2009.

DFDS launched the daily service between Newcastle and IJmuiden, the port outside Amsterdam, in May 1995 and the company is preparing to celebrate the route’s 15th anniversary later this year.

Within the last 12 months DFDS Seaways has also seen an increase in inbound customers of 19%.

DFDS Seaways UK Managing Director John Crummie said: “NewcastleGateshead and the wider North East region has become even better value for money with a stronger Euro. We have seen a rise in the short break business from Holland and Germany, which is undoubtedly being driven by the favourable exchange rate.

“Holidays in England have become extremely good value, and we have seen an increase in passengers travelling across with their vehicles, demonstrating that the route not only brings tourists in the NewcastleGateshead and the immediate area, but opens up the whole of the North East and Scotland to tourists.”

Crummie concluded: “2009 has been a turbulent year for the travel industry but I am pleased that we are bucking the trend and capitalising on the current economic climate.

“The route has been extremely successful in 2009, helped in part by the strong Euro, and the British traveller becoming increasingly disillusioned by low cost airlines. As we move in to the 15th year of this service we are confident that the route will continue to be as popular as ever.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .