IT WAS good to see your recent article on the progress tourism is making in West Devon and particularly nice to see your support for this vital local industry.
Yes, Devon is a brilliant place to visit, whether for a short break or a longer holiday.
But we do need to keep the current situation in perspective. The figures quoted in fact relate to last year, the first after the foot and mouth crisis when a huge effort was made by local organisations to get the industry back on its feet and visitors back to Devon.
Even so, the total of tourist nights quoted is barely 2% above that recorded in 1997 and there has been no significant upward trend since 1996 when this series of indices was begun.
Moreover, the indicators for this season suggest that the overall number of visitors must be expected to have slipped back to the level of 2000, the last year before foot and mouth.
But does it matter? The danger is that overstating our better results tends to induce complacency and reduce interest in the promotion and development programme needed to support our largest employer on which our economic prosperity depends.
So congratulations to all concerned on the fine results achieved in response to the foot and mouth crisis, but don?t let?s allow our eye off the ball in planning for the rest of this season and for 2004.
R Williamson
Lydford and Dartmoor Forest
Member for West Devon Borough Council