O Still Small Voice of Calm

It feels like we are living next to a volcano, the rumbling mountain is the media - spewing out ever more alarming messages about the financial crisis. We can see the smoke and hear the rumbles. We know its bad but we don't know whether we are going to end up like those petrified bodies in Pompei or breathing a sigh of relief as the sea of mud passes us by. The government and the commentators are like seismologists running around telling us what the measurement was yesterday when all we want to know is what is going to happen tomorrow. They say 'cometh the hour, cometh the man' - well I wish he would hurry up and turn up because there has been no sign of him (or her) so far. Where is the leadership that you so badly need in a crisis? The person who speaks the truth and gives confidence to people because of their competence, strength and calm analysis. Your country needs you!

It seems the same in the tourism industry - a growing well of worry and no one really in charge. Yes, some of the messages are positive, yes, people might holiday at home and no, we shouldn't talk ourselves down. But there is a cold front on the way and a bit of hard headed realism and some practical advice might be timely. Step forward Visit Britain/Visit England/Visit Scotland/Visit London/ Visit AnyPlace - I don't think it matters which Visit you are, just step forward and show some leadership.