Dear Editor, With the deepening recession many are thinking twice before booking holidays abroad and may be considering holidaying in the UK.

That should be good news for many people in local tourism and the £86 billion-a-year visitor economy.

Sadly without a sound marketing strategy and investment we aren’t going to get this boost and there were 2.2 million fewer trips year on year as at last November – a fall of a quarter.

Since 2003 our foreign advertising and promotion through Visit Britain has been cut by over £15 million and the Government has refused to commit more funding to this sector.

Over the last decade our global deficit in tourism has spiralled from £5 billion to £20 billion.

Surely tourism could be a route out of the recession, protecting jobs and creating new work? Secure investment coupled with steps like reducing VAT on accommodation or entrance to tourist attractions might be considered if we are to promote a “Wish you were here” thriving future.

Steve Kirkham

Kings Heath

Birmingham