Brexit concerns causing bookings drop, says Brittany Ferries boss

Brittany Ferries claims that there will be serious consequences for international tourism if a Brexit deal does not bring certainty and the free movement across borders, saying that the uncertainty is leading to fewer people booking holidays for next summer.

The news comes after the passenger and freight figures for the third quarter of 2018 were published by the firm.

The company's most popular route, Portsmouth-Caen '“ which carries around 30% of passengers '“ reported a two per cent rise, reflecting the national passenger traffic.

But the firm's boss, Christophe Mathieu, remains concerned about what next year's figures will look like post-Brexit.

He said: '˜While the summer period saw an encouraging rise in passenger traffic, we cannot afford to be complacent.

'˜Eighty five per cent of our passengers are British holidaymakers visiting key regions in France and northern Spain '“ we know that uncertainty and instability in the UK will have consequences on both sides of the channel.

'˜Family bookings for next summer already show a worrying downward trend, so today we sound the alarm.

'˜A poor deal, or perhaps no deal at all, could impact Brittany, Normandy and the Loire, regions that have benefited directly from the links we have established and the demand we have grown for Brits travelling overseas over the last 45 years.'