TOURISM in Monmouthshire has this week been dealt a massive blow, The Beacon can reveal. The total budget for Visit Wales has been reduced from about £40 million to around £18million for 2008/09, a reduction of 55%! We understand that UK marketing of Wales, excluding staff costs, has been progressively slashed from £8.1 million in 2005/6 to only £4.1 million this coming year. Worse hit will be overseas marketing where the degree of decimation is massive from a spending level of £4.6 million two years ago, to only £1.5 million this coming year, a reduction of 67%! David Cummings, Chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce (MDCTC) commented "It is generally acknowledged that two years ago the level of spending of Visit Wales meant that they could operate at the same level as their main competitors for UK tourism business; Ireland and Scotland. "The reduced budget for Visit Wales this year means that there will be little or no TV advertising, greatly reducing the profile of Wales as a short break destination in our UK target markets. "The Chamber is very concerned that these cutbacks will take place at a time when the overall economy may experience a downturn. Tourism is the main industry by far for the economy of Monmouthshire and the most important industry for Wales. "Tourism businesses along the Wye Valley are under particular pressure at the moment, because of landslips on the A466. We will be recommending to our members with direct links to tourism, such as hotels, activity providers, golf courses etc of the need to raise their individual presence nationally and internationally in an effort to compensate for the Visit Wales cutbacks". Mr Cummings said MDCTC would continue its close working relationship with the tourism section of Monmouthshire County Council "Shortly before Easter Monmouth Tourist Information Centre will move to its temporary location at the old Monmouth Job Centre, with panoramic views over the river Monnow. The new TIC is much larger, will have an updated livery and an external touch screen to provide visitor information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "There is an official opening of the new TIC being planned for May, at which MDCTC and the Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Tourist Association, in conjunction with MCC's Tourism Section aim to raise the profile of tourism and the particular issues facing tourism businesses in the area with the Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas. "It is essential, if Monmouth is to secure its fair share of visitor business, that the Chamber is able to make progress in its efforts to ensure that those visitors, local national or international wishing to visit Monmouth, can park easily and stay overnight if they so wish."