Plea to holiday at home this summer and watch Games

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A record £4 million will be spent on the biggest ever domestic tourism TV campaign to persuade people to book a UK break rather than fly to Spain, France or other hotspots.

TV viewers will be bombarded with the message: "There's so much happening in Britain in 2012, why on earth would you want to go abroad!"
Speaking to the Standard, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: "You'll kick yourself if you don't come to London this summer."

Hoteliers and theatre owners have raised fears that foreign tourists could avoid the capital because of the Olympics and possible transport problems. Mr Hunt admitted that there would be "displacement", with fewer traditional, foreign tours coming to London this summer.

But he insisted that an army of Olympic fans from abroad would instead be scrambling to book into hotels, restaurants and theatres.

Hitting back at "doom merchants", he added: "More importantly, people inside the UK are going to want to come and be part of the action, so it's going to be an incredible period."

The Cabinet minister also told how peaceful protests would be allowed but police would crack down "very hard" on demonstrators who try to disrupt the Games.

The domestic tourism adverts will start next month.