IT does seem that if Tony Blair is in York, Britain must be in crisis. The Prime Minister's previous visit was to view the floodwaters swirling ominously close to the top of the Foss Barrier. Autumn's emergency has been superseded by a calamitous spring, and Mr Blair is back.

These visits have proved mutually propitious. The Prime Minister's November tour of flood-hit Yorkshire showed the country how he was taking charge of the disaster. It also gave our region the chance to present the case for more flood defence funding directly to the top.

Today Mr Blair is in York to tell the world our tourist industry is open for business.

It is a message that must be repeated until it starts hitting home. The English regional tourist boards estimate they are losing £200 million a week, a figure that could quadruple over Easter, the traditional start of the tourist season.

Again, York has provided the perfect platform for the Prime Minister. The Jorvik centre, one of the jewels of the nation's museums, is reopening its doors this weekend after a £5 million revamp.

Jorvik epitomises everything positive about the British tourist experience: history, excitement and imagination wrapped up in a warm welcome. As it prepares to receive visitors again, where better for Mr Blair to declare the rest of the tourism sector open?

A revived Jorvik is excellent news for York. Its bosses took a bold step by closing the centre for six months while they reinvented their success story. Relying on past glories is no longer enough to keep the visitors coming back. The new look will bring in more business for both cities, Viking and modern.

While Jorvik has provided a grand opportunity for Mr Blair, his visit will give York a tremendous boost. Pictures of the Prime Minister and his wife in beautiful York will show the world that it is open for business.

Mercifully, this city has been insulated from the worst effects of the foot and mouth outbreak. The real pain is being felt in the countryside. Businesses like the Feversham Arms in Farndale, which had only two customers during what should have been one of its busiest weeks of the year. Countless other rural pubs, cafs, attractions and shops are being pushed towards the edge by the crisis.

The Government has announced £120 million in guaranteed loans for struggling tourist businesses. This will help, but the figure is dwarfed by the near £600 million paid in compensation to farmers so far. Tourism will need far more help to recover from this crisis.

The Prime Minister says the best way to help the rural economy is for people to return to the countryside. That is why we have produced our Open For Easter supplement tonight. It gives some great examples of the attractions available in the region. Mr Blair might like to keep it. It will remind him that this region is worth a visit even without a crisis.

Updated: 11:40 Friday, April 06, 2001