Head of tourist agency to step down after funding cuts

The chief executive of London's tourist agency is to stand down at the end of the year following a cut in funding.

James Bidwell, chief executive of Visit London, is leaving after the London Development Agency said in July that £5 million would be cut from Visit London's strategy arm London Unlimited.

Visit London denied the departure was related to the cost-cutting.

Mr Bidwell has been chief executive since 2005 and was previously marketing director at Selfridges. He is moving on to be managing director at Anthropologie Europe, a US lifestyle brand owned by Urban Outfitters.

Mr Bidwell said: "Visit London has made great progress over the past three years. Delivering record levels of spending by international visitors has been a real achievement.

"Tourism is one of the capital's most vital industries as it translates directly into jobs for London and Londoners. It has been a privilege to serve this great city and Visit London."

London has more overseas visitors than any other city. Its tourism industry is worth more than £16 billion and supports more than 250,000 full-time jobs.