Discover Dover with LD Lines
- 19 June 2009 14:4024004"DISCOVER DOVER" LAUNCHED WITH LD LINES
A new tourism initiative has been launched in association with ferry operator LD Lines aimed at generating inbound visitor business to Dover for cross channel passengers from the Continent, via LD Lines' new fast ferry service from Boulogne.
The creation of local Dover councillor, Roger Walkden, 10,000 "Discover Dover" leaflets will distributed to all passengers travelling from Boulogne to Dover via LD Lines, on board the "Norman Arrow" and conventional ferry "Cote d'Albatre", at the passenger reception offices in the ports of Boulogne and Dover, and in key tourism outlets throughout the Pas de Calais and Cote d'Opale region.
"Discover Dover" features the town's tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes, pubs, national chain and quality independent shops, hotels and guest houses, all of which are now comfortably available for French visitors to experience for a day, short break or longer stay visit, via LD Lines new cross channel Boulogne - Dover services.
"I am delighted to have been able to put this visitor guide together as the town has some wonderful history and many other assets, that we should be promoting actively to the cross channel inbound visitor market," says Roger Walkden.
"With the co-operation of this initiative, LD Lines have shown themselves already to be a very forward-looking company whether promoting English visitors going to Boulogne or French visitors coming to Dover, and together we are confident that this can be just the start of many new working partnerships."
Spokesman for LD Lines, Nick Stevens, said, "We are determined to make the new fast ferry route between Dover and Boulogne a success and the early signs are that both tourist passengers and freight hauliers are already finding the new service a really attractive choice of crossing the channel.
"To help establish and develop the route, we are very keen to look at ways of building the inbound market too and are delighted to be supporting the "Discover Dover" initiative. The fast crossing time of just one hour and a good timetable on offer from and to Boulogne, now makes a day trip or longer visit to Dover a real possibility for cross channel visitors."
"We hope that this may encourage other tourism groups in and around the Dover District and South East Kent region to work with us on other in bound visitor initiatives."
LD Lines new fast ferry "Norman Arrow" operates four return sailings daily between Dover (Eastern Docks) and Boulogne and a conventional ferry service providing two return sailings daily. Crossing time by conventional ferry is 1 hour 45 minutes.
For more information and to book : www.ldlines.com or call 0844 576 8836 - 19 June 2009 15:1224006Ah now you've shot me fox a bit with that one Andrew..had that same release in from your brother Nick complete with pictures, which would be earmarked for the frontpage. Its definitely frontpage material because its very impressive what our solid as a rock forumite Roger Walkden has done, and great that he worked very well with Nick and LD LINES to produce something significant..that should be enough to shame the people supposedly promoting Dover into some action.
By the way did anyone notice that Anne Knight has quit Dover Pride?? Jeezez she has only been there 5 ninutes. Seems like only yesterday I wrote to her when she took over, asking her to communicate via this website as nobody knows what Dover Pride does...doh!! so much for communication, I never got an answer!email: dover7@msn.com - 19 June 2009 15:5724007Oops! Sorry about that, Paul. Why don't you move the press release to the homepage?
I agree, Roger's doing a splendid job with the uphill task of promoting Dover.
Cheers,
Andy - 19 June 2009 16:2524011ah not to worry at all at all Andrew..will sort something out. Will get the picture of the chaps mentioned onto the frontpage anyway in a day or two just to highlight the achievement.
email: dover7@msn.com - 19 June 2009 18:2924020Thanks Andrew - you beat me to it too; thank you too Paul for your supportive comments.
It has been an uphill struggle against the apathy or simply the "NO CAN DO" attitude of so many people here in a position of authority.
I heard today that someone is going round telling people (who don't personally know me, but have heard of me) that I am a bad guy for Dover and a barrier to progress for the Town.
I couldn't believe this when I first heard it, but thinking about some of the things that have happened (or rather, not happened) there probably is someone with a grudge, but they must know a lot of fairly important people, considering who I heard this from.
We need to move Dover forward - on every level and this leaflet is one good practical way to do it.
Onwards and upwards.
Roger - 19 June 2009 18:5224022Roger, you do excellent work promoting Dover , giving your own time and resources. Don't be put off.
Watty - 19 June 2009 19:4224032how about the money spent on the dover pride employee that has left, being ringfenced for tourism?
paulb
that does not surprise me about doverpride, all we get is "mission statements" from them.
if you ask them to detail an exact action, they have none. - 20 June 2009 06:2424052Thanks Paul - your support means a lot.
Roger - 21 June 2009 08:3624149Well done all those concerned especially Roger. What with the New Screen,the refurbishment of the old indoor market,a new link to France things are beginning to look brighter for Dover.All it needs is for the Crypt area to be sorted and work commencing on St James and DTIZ.
A monthly Frenchy type market to compliment the lonely fruit and veg stall would be a bonus,more street traders similar to those in Canterbury would be welcome and less Charity Friends of the Earth type blaggers might make the town centre that little bit more appealing. A higher viz Police or PCSO presence I'm sure would also reassure our more senior citizens that it was safe to wander into town ovr the weekend to do their shopping. A temporary tourististy stand dishing out leaflets,street maps etc may also make a difference for cruise passengers and day trippers.
But again well done Roger.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 21 June 2009 09:3324162marek
horace does the leafletting in market square for the tourists.
does a very good job. - 22 June 2009 06:1824215Indeed he does Howard - on cruise Port of Call days. He could have some French and English versions (when I get them printed) of the leaflet.
Roger - 22 June 2009 10:5624233I saw Horace this morning handing out leaflets and helping visiting tourists in Market square in front of the screen
- 24 June 2009 18:4424380Roger - Picked up a leaflet today and it looks very good ! Well doneBeen nice knowing you :)
- 25 June 2009 06:4124400Thanks Paul - glad you like it.
Nick Stevens took the rest Tuesday morrning (I have kept a few) and is distributing them on board both LD Lines ships, the booking halls in both Dover and boulogne, the Office de Tourisme in Boulogne as many other outlets as he knows of.
A lot of people in and around Boulogne willl know what there is to see and do in Dover, so with 6 crossing a day, it must bring in more French people, not just returning Brits.
I'm looking for funding to print an English version now, which will also help.
Roger - 27 June 2009 02:4724571LD Lines have announced that the route from Dover to Dieppe will be terminated on 29th June. Not unexpected but it was rather pleasing to have Dover being able to offer an additional continental destination. The Cote d'Albatre will continue to make two round trips to Boulogne daily. The Norman Arrow is capable of performing more round trips than at present but this will not be possible until new slots in Dover can be provided next year.
The Eastern Arm berth should be back in operation shortly after being out for maintenance, whereupon the Cote d'Albatre and presumably also the Norman Arrow will commence using ED1 instead of ED3 as at present. The European Endeavour arrived back in the port yesterday after a sojourn on the Irish Sea so possibly this may complicate matters.
ED3 has been a bit of a compromise. The Maersk D's shifted from ED3 to ED2 to facilitate LD utilising ED3 which has a couple of advantages. The fingers on the ramp are longer and the berth is more sheltered as ED2 is prone to suffer from the pronounced swell which can build up between Pier A and the Eastern Arm.
The Cote has a particular problem in that she is too small to fit bows-in to the ramp and a Yokohama fender has to be lowered into the water before she arrives in order to push her bow far enough off the berth to line up with the ramp. This is then a bit of a balancing act with the bow and stern ropes holding her into the berth. Loading has to be suspended whenever a Maersk D is arriving or departing on the opposite side of the pier.
This is because all the piers in Dover are designed to allow water to flow through them. Dover has very strong circulating currents due to the tidal flows causing jetstreams to pour through the Eastern and Western Entrances. If water could not flow through the piers then the current would flow along the side of each pier and swirl around the end, forming a strong cross current which would have disastrous consequences for ferries attempting to berth.
The photos below show the Yokohama fender being lowered into the water, the Cote d'Albatre well out of the berth after a Maersk D has just departed, the Norman Arrow in berth ED3 with the circular cutouts visible at the pier waterline, and a close-up of water flowing through the circular cut-outs.
- 27 June 2009 07:0324574Thanks Ed - very interesting post as usual.
That's a shame about Dieppe being deleted from the Dover schedule; I was looking to do a further promotion with Dieppe, as we did with Boulogne.
I guess passenger numbers (lack of) must have been a deciding factor.
Roger - 27 June 2009 09:1524583Excellent TV coverage Roger. Well done.
Watty - 27 June 2009 10:3524585Great stuff, Roger. Allez Douvres! Onwards and upwards.
- 27 June 2009 12:1424588Thanks Paul and Andrew, but I didn't know it was on the TV - was it BBC or Meridian and when was it ?
Roger - 27 June 2009 18:3024599Shame that LD Lines are suspending the Dieppe run - I was looking forward to popping over there .
