WITH less than two years to the 2012 Olympics, Cornwall's tourism industry is being urged to make a major bid for a big share of the millions which the games are set to bring into Britain.

Foreign tourists are expected to flock to the UK and many of them will want to spend more time and more money in the country before returning home.

Malcolm Bell, Head of Tourism at VisitCornwall, told a specially convened meeting of accommodation providers and tourist-related businesses in Boscastle that even the smallest B&B and village shop has something unique to offer.

"It is important to keep striving for improvement especially whilst the eyes of the world are upon us in the lead up to the Olympic Games in 2012," he said. "We have to stand out from other destinations and prove that the service in Cornwall is second to none."

The meeting, in the village's community centre, was organised by Boscastle Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the invited audience was able to quiz Mr Bell about plans for the future and express concerns over developments affecting the accommodation quality grading system.

The guests were staggered to learn just how little Cornwall spends on advertising compared with some of its rivals. Mr Bell explained that whilst Cornwall has a budget of around £850,000 a year Yorkshire has a whopping £12 million pounds at its disposal. But he was confident that Cornwall could still make its mark and that every penny spent was well targeted. National advertising was not the only way forward; improving communications, enhancing digital links to make the most of modern technology and having a joined up

approach to tourism promotion were equally important.