Operators say London riots won't impact tourists...

Rioting in London will not impact tourism provided the disturbances stay in the suburbs.

This is the opinion of The European Tour Operators Association put out in a statement yesterday.

ETOA executive director Tom Jenkins believes the troubles will have little impact on visitor numbers for next year's Olympics in the capital.

"The Olympics is, overwhelmingly, a domestic event," he said.

"British people won"t be put off from visiting the Olympics in Stratford because a year earlier shop windows were broken in Hackney.

"Events like these have occurred in Western cities such as LA, Madrid and Paris. Those in the UK are abnormal, and so newsworthy, even this August.

"But they have been largely confined to secondary shopping centres in the suburbs. No iconic landmarks have been affected. So long as the damage is contained outside of central London, then there will be little long-term impact on demand for London as a tourist destination."

ETOA said its members handle tens of thousands of visitors to London and so far none have been caught up in the current problems.

"What is most striking about these events is the restraint displayed by the British police. The care shown for human life over that of property is deeply impressive: a positive image of a nation"s institutional ability to cope with adversity."

* Do you agree with ETOA's statement? Do you think the recent unrest will have an impact on tourism?

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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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Hope and pray

It is true that no iconic buildings in London have been affected by the riots, but when people see the images of burning buildings in London it is just that riots and mayhem in London that they see, people do not tend to departmentalise. The headlines around the country and the world is that London is burning full stop. We can only hope and pray that the riots in London and the copycat one"s elsewhere will die down and fade in the memory by the time the Olympics come round

By Mr P Doyle, Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Things must be bad

Things must be bad. Even Watford FC have postponed their game!

By David Burdon, Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Be positive but also be believable

Business networking events are being cancelled in Central London and venues are closing early. Who can blame them. Sports events cancelled. Now we hear local people are dressing in white, forming groups, to defend their own property and businesses, because the police will not. Who can blame them. I do not share the opion, that the police can stand back and let businesses be looted and then burnt. Lets hope order can be redtored, and government should actively help restore the businesses. Ian

By Ian Stirling, Wednesday, August 10, 2011