Town losing shoppers to France

More Christmas shoppers are choosing to travel to France

Dover could do more to tempt the increasing number of travellers choosing France to do their Christmas shopping, according to the town's business leaders.

A study published on Thursday showed that almost a quarter of the British public will do at least some of their Christmas shopping abroad in order to save money.

The Cost of Christmas 2003 survey suggests more and more people are opting for the "booze cruise" option as the price of international travel continues to fall.

France is the most popular destination, with 57% succumbing to the lure of cross-channel shopping sprees, and heading to Calais.

'Laziness and complacency'

A new 60-unit shopping centre is opening near the French town at the beginning of December.

Ferry companies in Dover are hoping the increase in the number of shoppers heading to France will mean more money being spent on their vessels.

Brian Rees, of P&O Ferries, said there were more than 7,000 different items for sale on a typical ship.

"You name it, we retail it these days," he said.

But Dover's town centre manager Mike Webb said with so much money passing through the Kent town, retailers could be missing a big opportunity.

"I do think there has been a laziness and a complacency in this town which has come about because, if you go back 20 years, more than half the people used to work in or around the port, so you did not need visitors.

"Now we do need them and the town is waking up to those needs.

"But of course we are a long way behind where we could be," he said.