London is the world’s leading tourist destination – and has the world’s best tourism agency behind it, according to 200,000 industry professionals.

Despite the July bombings, London fought off stiff competition from Sydney and New York to be named the World's Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards held this week.

Britain’s tourism agency VisitBritain was rewarded with three titles, including the World’s Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau, and the World's Leading Tourism Authority Internet Site.

VisitBritain chairman Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge was awarded the Destination and Convention Bureau Travel Personality of the Year.

“I'm very pleased at this recognition of VisitBritain's world-class performance,” said Lord Marshall. “Travel and tourism is widely acknowledged as the biggest industry in the world and is vital to the UK's economy.”

The plaudits come as industry leaders met Government ministers today to discuss the opportunities the 2012 London Olympics present, and to plead for a single unified body to co-ordinate tourism in England.

With funding divided between VisitBriatin, Visit London, eight regional development agencies and 560 tourist information offices, the industry representatives argue that any form of truly cohesive policy for tourism in the country is impossible to achieve at present.

By Jen Crothers

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