A turnaround in ferry travel has brought good news for the economy, tourism, Dublin Port and the environment with the report of a huge uptake in sea travel (the green travel option) through Dublin Port last year.
Over 1.3 million people travelled by ferry through Dublin Port in 2007, an increase of 11.5% on last year and a reversal of the recent years decline in ferry travel.
The number of tourist cars has also risen significantly in 2007 to 271,320, a 6% increase on 2006. The record numbers of passengers were accounted for by all five ferry companies which sail from Dublin Port, Irish Ferries, Steno Line, Norfolkline, P&O Irish Sea and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Dublin Port Company today published ferry passenger statistics for 2007 saying that ferry travel benefited significantly from its recent (and ongoing) marketing campaign which celebrated the rich tradition of ferry travel out of Dublin. The marketing campaign brought Behan, Beckett, Joyce, O’Casey, Shaw, Wilde and Yeats and their works back to Dubliners through billboards, bus shelters and newspaper advertising reminding us that these great Irish writers all used ferries from Dublin to make good their getaways. Dublin Port Company want to remind the public of the services from Dublin Port and that voyages by sea are an opportunity for comfort, civility, luxury and stress free travel.
Enda Connellan, CEO, Dublin Port Company said, "Dublin Port Company is committed to supporting our ferry industry and our customers. The ease, joy and stress free experiences of travelling by sea are being rediscovered at last! As Oscar Wilde once remarked “there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about”, our campaign has clearly got people talking about ferry travel, and more important, taking it.”
There are 17 ferry sailings daily from Dublin Port. A modern fleet of vessels operated by Irish Ferries, Stena Line, Norfolkline, P&O Irish Sea and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company offer services travelling to Liverpool, Birkenhead, Holyhead and the Isle of Man.
Date Published: Monday 25. of February 2008