Record tourist fall costs Britain £2bn

A record fall in foreign visitors hit the £13billion tourist trade last year, government figures reveal today.

The devastating impact of foot and mouth and 11 September resulted in a 14per cent fall in spending by overseas visitors, with losses to the industry of £2billion.

The National Statistics Office report on 2001 showed a seven per cent collapse in tourist numbers on the previous year, exceeding the five per cent drop after the Gulf War in 1991.

Visitors were down by 250,000 in the second half of September alone, with the whole of the month and October easily the worst period of the year. December also saw visitors drop by 17per cent, one of the largest on record, as Americans in particular stayed away.

With the industry now trying to inject a sense of optimism for the future, today sees the launch of the second phase of the British Tourist Authority's UKOK promotion, which will see Britons encouraged to invite friends and relatives overseas to visit this country. A recorded video message from Tony Blair will urge tourists to enjoy "the traditional side by side with the most modern and contemporary".

Thousands of jobs in London depend on the tourist trade, a vital sector of the capital's economy, employing 275,000 people and generating £8billion a year. Mayor Ken Livingstone has put together a £4million rescue package through his London Tourism Recovery Group.

The £5million UKOK campaign aims to recover at least half the £1billion lost to London's tourist trade - and £2billion nationally. Celebrations surrounding the Queen's golden jubilee will spearhead the campaign.