WE in the British Tourist Authority are delighted to see the first green shoots of recovery among the more than 120,000 businesses which make up Britain's vitally important tourism industry.
They are facing enormous difficulties at the moment and we hope that UK residents will respond to their needs by going out and visiting them.
However, it is going to be far more difficult to win back the overseas visitors, who have been scared off by the foot and mouth outbreak. Britain benefits by around £13 billion a year in receipts from foreign tourists - a figure which may now be cut by up to £2.5 billion.
Our overseas visitors don't have the loyalty or the patriotism that we have. We can't rely on them to spend their money elsewhere in the UK economy - they'll simply holiday somewhere else.
The BTA offices overseas are already doing their best to counter the misinformation and provide reassurance to potential visitors. When foot and mouth is over, we will be working hard to lure our overseas visitors back.
David Quarmby,
Chairman,
British Tourist Authority,
Thames Tower,
Black's Road, London.
Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, April 17, 2001
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