Celebrity Big Brother racism row could be bad for UK tourism trade

The racism furore surrounding Celebrity Big Brother could damage the UK’s tourism trade, industry leaders have warned.

Indian tourism is worth £226m to the UK economy, but could be hit by the row caused by comments made during the Channel 4 show by Jade Goody to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, according to Bernard Donoghue, head of government and public at VisitBritain.

Describing Goody and her sidekicks Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara as "world-ignorant women", he said: "Our brand of Britain is universally seen around the world as welcoming, friendly, tolerant, accepting and inviting."

His comments came as it emerged there have been protests against Celebrity Big Brother in India with effigies of the show's organisers being burnt on the streets of India.

VisitBritain has now issued a statement in India, saying "the world is not seen through the prism of a reality TV show".

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By Daniel Thomas

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