The Government has slapped the UK tourism industry in the face by once again failing to increase the funding for national tourist board VisitBritain, says the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

Cotton: "growth at risk"

In Chancellor Gordon Brown's spending review last week, there was no mention of tourism.

VisitBritain wants at least a further £5m a year to help bring in more tourists.

BHA chairman Bob cotton said: "Government funding for VisitBritain has stood still at £35.5m per year for the last seven years, which means an effective annual reduction."

He claimed this was putting the growth of the sector at risk.

Cotton added: "In 2002 VisitBritain, together with commercial interests, attracted over one million extra visitors who spent more than £500m.

"We're promoting our socks off to recover from the dire situation in 2001 - which was partly caused by Whitehall bungling over the foot-and-mouth outbreak."

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