Research from industry body Discover Ferries reveals that more Brits would feel safe from coronavirus infection travelling by ferry than by aeroplane, train or coach.
The news has been welcomed by ferry bosses and comes after campaigns to promote the benefits of travelling by water. However, results show there is still more to be done to reassure an anxious public that ferry safe means very safe.
In total, 32% said they would feel safe from coronavirus infection travelling by ferry. That compares with 24% for planes, 30% for trains and 26% for coaches.
Discover Ferries is encouraging those who are still concerned to visit www.discoverferries.com/ferrysafe to learn more about measures being taken on board, or to visit dedicated Coronavirus pages on members’ websites.
Abby Penlington, director of Discover Ferries, said:
“It is encouraging to see that Brits consider ferry travel to be the safest form of public transport during the pandemic. Ferries naturally lend themselves to social distancing, with spacious passenger areas and access to fresh air on most vessels so perhaps that’s not surprising. What worries us more is the significant proportion who remain unconvinced and may therefore be delaying travel plans as a consequence.”
Operators have been working hard to implement and communicate strict COVID safe measures on board. However, the survey also shows that factors outside the control of the industry are adding to travellers’ anxiety, the most significant being quarantine restrictions.
When considering future holidays abroad, just under three quarters of Brits (74%) say they are concerned about the possibility of having to quarantine when they arrive at their destination and 65% are concerned about the possibility of having to quarantine when they return home. This level of anxiety has barely changed since June, when Discover Ferries commissioned its first Coronavirus public sentiment survey, before lockdown travel restrictions were eased.
Abby adds:
“Our sector recognises the balance needed to protect public health and support the UK economy during Coronavirus. So, we understand that quarantine can be an important step to prevent its spread. But like others in the travel sector, we believe that the government should adopt a more regional approach to travel sanctions. It should also carefully consider allowing testing to shorten quarantine times, once testing capacity is available. This would bring greater stability to the industry and, in turn, reassure passengers who wish to book an autumn get-away or their 2021 break now.”
For further information on how the ferry industry is responding to COVID-19, visit www.discoverferries.com/ferrysafe.
Safe for who, not the islanders that’s for sure, look at the latest rise in covid-19 numbers over here. Can someone please tell the ferry companies to keep to essential travel only, not 2nd homeowners or just over for a jolly. Bob Seely’s quiet about the rise in cases, he shouldn’t be. It’s his, the tourist board and are ever corrupted joke of a councils fault.
Obviously not questioned anyone who has travelled on Wightlink in the last couple of months then.
In my book, 32% is well below average. Or in another way, nearly 70% do not feel safe traveling by ferry. Funny that an “industry body” is promoting these low levels as a positive. Wonder how many feel safe traveling by car? near 100% I would imagine. Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Red funnel and Wightlink – got anything to say? Didn’t think so, given your shocking incompetence to enforcing social distancing etc etc
Exactly – twisted statistics again.
The message is clearly that the vast majority of people didn’t feel safe using any of the forms of transport.
There were just slightly fewer that felt that the ferry was unsafe.
There was also nothing to prove the safety or otherwise of the modes of transport.
Sorry, but that headline should be “least risky”, not “safest”.
Percentages can be twisted to whatever you want them to say, so the report is a load of rubbish.
The only safe public transport is NOT to go, or if you must, mask, visor, distance etc etc.
So…. If I’ve got this right. An industry body called “Discover Ferries” has concluded that travelling by ferry is the safest form of public transport. Wonder if they might be slightly biased in this.
On the wightlink car ferry ,loads of people don’t wear them ,they can’t all be exempt.
Let’s be honest, Wightlink haven’t followed any of the rules that they should have done since March, they don’t care about anything but money.
Why is it that we are not being told just how many people are travelling to and from the Island for Covid tests? How can anyone possibly feel safe on the ferries without this information?