| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
We came, we saw, we conquered
Delegates on the British Tourist Authority’s tour of Britain will go home eager to spread the message that the UK is open forbusiness, writes Nadine Godwin.
Even in unaffected areas such as the Scottish Highlands, bad publicity has devastated trade despite attractions, footpaths and parks being open as usual. BTA chief executive Jeff Hamblin told us:”We’re not going to pretend there isn’t a problem here.”
He confirmed certain locations, such as footpaths near livestock in affected areas, had to be closed. But across the UK, he said, 80% of attractions and 90% of events are open for business. Hamblin said the trip had generated more press coverage than anticipated and he was happy for it to be a news-generating event. After a meeting with prime minister Tony Blair, American Society of Travel Agents president Richard Copland said: “We’ve come out of this with something positive.”