CAMPAIGNERS for St George's Day to be a national holiday are close to their objective, according to West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox.

The MP, who has supported local campaigners in pressing for the English patron saint's day to be officially celebrated, has urged them to respond to the Government's consultation to take place later this year.

The procedure is part of the new tourism strategy, which Mr Cox said would give an important boost to tourism in the South West.

The MP said the publication last week of the strategy would cut red tape, free up local businesses, and re-establish the tourism industry as a key priority for restoring the UK economy.

The proposals include the official consultation on extending the tourist season by moving the first bank holiday in May to create a new St George's Day holiday in England.

Mr Cox says the strategy will generate four million extra overseas visitors over the next four years, bringing an extra £2-billion worth of visitor spending into the country and creating 50,000 new jobs.

He said: 'The Coalition's Tourism Strategy will make a huge difference to the local economy here in Torridge and West Devon.

'It also means that, after all of the campaigning over recent years, we are now very close to our objective of an official celebration of St George's Day.

'This is important, not only for its place in generating tourism, but to permit us to celebrate, in a quiet and dignified way, our English identity.

'For too long, Labour ignored the vital importance of tourism while suffocating the industry with red-tape. After years in the Labour wilderness, tourism is finally being recognised as the crucial driver of our economy that it is.'