THE Borough Council's second annual tourism summit at Beech Hurst, Andover has been hailed a resounding success.

Lisa Mitchard, senior tourism officer at Test Valley Borough Council, said: "The Test Valley Tourism Summit presents the opportunity for different sectors of the local tourism industry to meet and exchange information, whilst obtaining up-to-date knowledge on issues within the tourism industry that may affect their business."

The programme incorporated speakers from the Southern Tourist Board, Hampshire County Council, Business Link Wessex and Test Valley Borough Council.

Topic areas included green tourism, support and training for small businesses, electronic design management system Visit and the tourism situation at national, regional and local level.

David Gleave, the borough council's economic development officer, explained how the summit reflected the growing importance of tourism to the local rural economy.

He said: "Tourism is a vital industry in Test Valley employing, directly and indirectly, an estimated 1,800 people and generating over £89 million a year in the local economy.

"Thus the summit represents a very valuable and practical way of helping local tourism businesses to join forces, gain advice and support each other in a way which helps reinforce the overall economic prosperity of the borough."

A representative of Whitchurch Silk Mill also spoke about changes and developments over the past year.