Letter: Mixed welcome, but tourists return

Sir: Simon Calder's 'letter' to the English Tourist Board Chairman gives a distorted picture of the welcome overseas visitors to this country receive. Some 80 per cent of visitors arrive via London, 60 per cent of them spending at least part of their stay here.

Four-fifths of visitors find Londoners friendly or very friendly. In 1993, only 9 per cent complained of lack of, or unclear, tourist information. The only complaint relating to accommodation was one of price, with 2 per cent saying that it was too expensive.

Fortunately, many of the 10.3 million overseas visitors who stay in London every year do not agree with Mr Calder, as more than half of them are making a repeat visit.

Yours faithfully,

T. A. G. WEBB

Managing Director

London Tourist Board

London, SW1