City tourism push in wake of terror attacks

by John Harrington

A multi-million-pound campaign is on its way to lure visitors back to London following last month's bomb attacks.

It comes as many London pubs experience only slight im-provement in business since the bombings, with the family and tourist trade hit the hardest.

Discussions about a marketing campaign have taken place between the London Mayor's Office, tourist body Visit Britain and businesses. Details are to be released in the coming weeks, but free or discounted travel has been suggested.

The campaign will expand on Visit Britain's 'London in September campaign which will see a guide book, featuring special offers on top London attrac-tions, sent to 1.2 million homes in and around the capital.

Although major trade bodies have not been involved in discussions, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chairman Alex Salussolia welcomed the news that help was on the way.

He said trade at the capital's pubs was down 8% to 15% since the bombings, with West End venues hit hardest and outer London pubs the least affected. Venues that focused on the tourism and family market had seen trade fall 25% to 30%, he said.

'I think there's been some recovery, but in the tourism market things are way, way down and there are no signs of that recovering in the short term at all, Salussolia explained.

He said that while people who worked in London were happy to stay for a drink, they were less enthusiastic about taking their families to the capital.

This assessment is supported by the latest report on the impact of the attacks on London businesses from the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group, which says families 'are still clearly hesitant about visiting London at the moment.

Jeremy Gordeno, managing director of Soho Bars and Restaurants, which owns nine venues in the West End, estimated that trade was down around 5% at his venues. He attributed this to fewer tourists visiting London, who usually replenish business in August as Londoners go away on holiday.

Meanwhile, pubs and other businesses in the tourist hub of Leicester Square have all agreed to step up their bag searches following the attacks.