Foot-and-mouth hits tourist jobs

Outbreak expected to have wider consequences says latest CBI survey

Huge job losses and a big drop in confidence are expected in the tourism industry in the coming months because of the impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

According to a new survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), holiday business, which many pubs rely on throughout the summer, has suffered badly from foot-and-mouth so far.

The survey is the first official data to be compiled on the effects - others are due to be published this week.

Overall, 34 per cent of the businesses questioned, which included pubs, considered their business volumes to be below normal which is the most negative result since the CBI began the survey in 1998.

"Confidence has been hit by the expectation that the foot-and-mouth outbreak will have a wider and more prolonged effect on consumer services," said the CBI's associate director of economic analysis, Sudhir Junankar.

The Cumbria Crisis Alliance, formed of small businesses that have been hit by the effects of the disease, was due to meet representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Trade and Industry as The Publican Newspaper went to press.

Licensee Terry Franks, spokeman for the group, said: "I think it's a good sign that they're prepared to listen to us."

In the New Forest, a campaign to encourage tourists back into the countryside has been started by Whitbread Pub Partnerships, New Forest District Council and the local tourist association.

Pub Partnerships has produced 100,000 specially-designed postcards announcing the re-opening of the countryside to encourage requests for more information and has held roadshows in London's Victoria and Waterloo stations.