TOURISM operators from across the North West are meeting in Wigan this week to discuss plans for a radical change in the way England is marketed.

Hoteliers, attraction owners, local authority tourism officers and other operators will take part in the North West Tourism Industry Forum on Thursday. Top of the agenda will be plans to reform how England is marketed to the domestic audience - which were outlined by the Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell MP last week.

Operators at the Forum, at the Wigan Investment Centre, will also share information on how they are faring now the Foot and Mouth crisis is behind them.

Colin Doyle, a North West Tourist Board Director and Chair of the North West Tourism Industry Forum, said: "In the run-up to what we hope will be a very busy May Bank Holiday - which of course includes the Jubilee celebrations - the Forum will be a chance to reflect on the many changes currently taking place in tourism. We need to ensure that the North West tourism industry has a voice in deciding in which direction those changes will take us - and ensure that the Region benefits from them."

Proposals announced by Tessa Jowell MP include a radical change to the English Tourism Council - which at the moment does not have a marketing role - and the creation of a public-private coalition to market England to the UK market and develop e-tourism.

"The plans also include Regional Development Agencies playing a stronger role in the strategic leadership of tourism. Currently marketing to the domestic market is delivered by the Regional Tourist Boards and local authorities.

Mr Doyle said: "A strong national strategy for marketing England backed by equally strong regional bodies is definitely the way forward. Currently there can be confusion and duplication and so an agreed action plan would give all tourism operators the chance to work to common goals in a much more co-ordinated way.

"However, if we are to succeed in growing tourism in the future, changes to structures and roles need to be backed up by real funding to support domestic marketing. Within the regions this means support for regional marketing activities."