Drop in Tourist Information Centres puts Olympic benefits at risk - Brake

1.32.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Nov 2007

The number of Tourism Information Centres in London has dropped by almost a third since 1997, putting at risk the tourist benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games, figures from the Liberal Democrats revealed today.

This revelation follows the recent decision by the Government to cut £9m in funding for the national tourism agency, VisitBritain.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Olympics Minister, Tom Brake MP said:

"Just as London should be gearing up for an enormous influx of Olympic visitors we're putting up closed signs in Tourism Information Centres across the capital.

"It's clear that the best way London can benefit from the Games is to attract as many tourists as possible, but the Government has decided to cut funding for tourism instead.

"Now it seems that even the tourists who actually make it here will be left in the lurch.

"Serious questions must be asked about why ministers have failed to highlight this issue in the Olympic Tourism Strategy.

"The Olympics provide the perfect opportunity to boost tourism up and down the country, but efforts to make the most of this are being undermined by a lack of Government funding or leadership."