New tourism alliance struck

Representatives of the UK tourism sector have come together to form a new Tourism Alliance to promote the industry's interests.

The alliance, to be launched at the end of October, will aim to encourage both government and the industry at large to adopt new measures and approaches to improve its competitiveness.

Bodies involved in setting up the alliance include the British Hospitality Association and the British Beer and Pub Association.

Its first chairman will be Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry.

He said: "Recent events have shown how important it is for tourism to speak with a single, clear voice. The alliance will strengthen the industry's focus on key issues and help to ensure that its economic and employment impacts are well understood at all levels of government."

The alliance will lobby politicians in both Westminster and Brussels.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>