THE TOURIST IN BRITAIN
Sta,—In your issue of March 14th, Professor D. W. Brogan puts forward views on " tourism " which are, I think, a little misleading in certain aspects of the question, although sound criticism of certain important points are more than justified. Britain is likely to, and almost certainly will, attract a large number of tourists this year, despite the handicaps of austerity and petty " bugbears," which Professor Brogan so pains- takingly propounds. It is not with the idea of wallowing in the lap of luxury that many potential tourists view their impending visit to this country. To the contrary. They are all aware that restrictions and inconveniences do exist, but are nevertheless undeterred in their intention to see Britain as it really is today. It would be possible, no doubt, to grant certain concessions to visitors so that a good impression of this country might be gained. But I do feel that any tourist, whatever his nationality, would instantly rebuke any such plan whereby the guest was living better than his hosts, the British people. The American Press has given its readers a pretty shrewd idea of conditions in Britain today. America has sent us aid. If Americans visiting this country were to see prosperity in Britain with the people living on the fat of the land, the impression they might give on their return to the United States might not altogether be in the best interests of Anglo-American friendship. It would be a great mistake in policy to camouflage austerity as luxury, for it would almost certainly cause disappointment on one side and embarrass-
ment on the other.—Yours, &c., DONALD A. SCOTT-RE1D. 29 Argyll Road, Kensington, W.8.
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