Passport checks could stop cruise lines visiting UK ports
Cruise companies could pull out of UK ports as border controls leave passengers queuing for hours for a day trip in the UK.
The UK cruise industry is asking for a ‘risk-based approach’ to passport checks as tightened border controls now mean all EU passengers arriving for a visit are checked – including British passengers.
Passengers on a half day call of four or eight hours’ duration are sometimes waiting hours to go through passport control.
Kay Greenway, a spokesman for Cruise Britain, fears this will do serious harm to the British tourism industry.
Greenway told the Telegraph: "No operators have withdrawn yet, but we are afraid that they will. It makes it very difficult to operate when you only have a half day call of four hours or eight hours.
"You have an excursion booked at nine and you can’t leave. We believe these passengers are extremely low-risk.
"They would visit the cultural and heritage sights in the area, such as castles, gardens and stately homes. They will also shop."
Cruise Britain, a combined force of Visit Britain and the Passenger Shipping Association to promote UK cruises, estimates that each passenger will spend just over £82 on a day trip when they disembark, meaning a ship with 2,000 people on board is worth £164,000.
The Passenger Shipping Association describes these EU tourists as ‘low risk’, saying the Border Agency has details of everyone on board before the ship docks.
"We want a risk based approach," said Penny Guy of the Passenger Shipping Association. "If you have thousands of people on a ship, it can take hours to get off, it is not particularly friendly.
"The UK border forces are requiring every single passenger to present their passport to the UK officials.
"Cruise companies have details of all passengers so it is easy to identify passengers the border force wish to see directly.
"The cruise ships have the option to visit any ports they wish and if they feel the passenger’s experience is not as enjoyable then they have the choice to go to other ports."
According to the latest industry figures, 648,000 cruise passengers visited Britain in 2011, contributing £2.4 billion to the UK economy.
Diane
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025