Britain reopens countryside to tourists

Britain is making an effort to woo tourists back into its countryside in spite of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The Government's rural task force has urged English councils to end closures of footpaths and attractions in areas free of the disease to reinforce the "open-for-business" message touted by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Government has phoned local authorities, demanding that they justify keeping paths or attractions closed. Visitors have been urged to use disinfectant where provided and to clean their boots and cars after each visit to the countryside.

As Environment Minister Michael Meacher, chairman of the task force, admitted that many rural businesses were close to collapse, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport backed the opening of visitor attractions in risk-free areas.

They issued detailed advice to attraction managers on how to minimise risk of spreading the virus. It includes creating a 100m "buffer zone" between visitors and any livestock.

The National Trust is opening 160 properties. English Heritage will open more than 200 properties including Carlisle Castle, Whitby Abbey and Tintagel Castle.

Mr Blair has met Chris Smith, the Culture Secretary, and Janet Anderson, the Tourism Minister, to discuss fears that the foot-and-mouth crisis could cost the tourist industry billions in lost revenue. The industry, worth $40 billion a year in England alone, is losing an estimated $330 million a week.

Mr Blair said: "It is tragic that some areas unaffected by foot-and-mouth have been affected as badly as those worst hit. The way this has been presented on television abroad, as if the whole country was out of bounds, is leading to cancellations that are totally unnecessary."

The disease could not have hit Britain at a worse time because the British Tourism Authority's major promotional push this year is for the country's gardens. The BTA has linked its websites to several British sites to provide information about how the outbreak may impact on travel plans.

The easiest access is through Britain in New Zealand which links to both the British High Commission and BTA sites.