A MASSIVE slump in bookings has hit hotels in the New Forest, sparking fears that some establishments could close.

A huge number of tourists are turning their back on the area and booking bargain flights to the sun.

Cheap mortgages, the strength of the pound and cut-price foreign holidays are being blamed for the exodus.

The Forest's £150 million-a-year tourist industry is also under threat from the Kosovo crisis. Operators have slashed the price of holidays in Greece and Turkey to counter the impact of the Balkans War.

News of the difficulty facing the Forest comes just 24 hours after it was announced that campsites are bulging at the seams.

Holidays under canvas are more popular than ever, but hotels appear to be heading for a bleak summer.

Hotel bookings in the Forest last month were 17 per cent down on last spring - and the trend looks set to continue. Tony Climpson, the dis-trict council's tourism officer, said British tourist centres were struggling to compete with their foreign rivals.

"Last year, for the first time, more English people went abroad than had a holiday at home," said Mr Climpson.

"This year we're told that British airlines are desperately trying to charter planes from all over the world to cope with the rush.

"We could be seeing the start of a domestic tourism recession - and it's possible that some hotels will go under.

"I'm about to ring the Department of Culture, which has launched a national tourism strategy, to see what we can do to address the situation."

He added: "We've got a marvellous sailing centre, one of Britain's best river valleys and the greatest range of activities you could possibly imagine." "The Forest is anything you want to make it."

Bernard Kuropka, chairman of New Forest Tourism, was unavailable for comment.

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