DAVID Cameron's backing of tourism at a speech earlier this month has been given a warm welcome by senior figures from the local industry.

In his remarks, Mr Cameron made reference to the fact that tourism was the third highest export earner in the UK, ranking behind only the financial services and chemical industries, but he also said "we're just not doing enough to make the most of our tourism".

Mr Cameron told the audience that huge opportunities were being missed and he criticised the previous Government for having "eight different ministers with responsibility for tourism within 13 years".

John Penrose, recently appointed Minister for Tourism and Heritage, is due to present a report on the industry to the Prime Minister in October.

In a private briefing organised by Visit Kent – voted Best Inbound Marketing Organisation by UK tourist operators earlier this year – chief executive Sandra Matthews-Marsh said: "We believe that our partnership model in Kent is unique.

"We have been successful because we have worked hard not only with our private sector investors, but also to ensure local residents see the benefits to the environment that tourism can bring.

"We have fabulous products in our hotels, castles, gardens, theatres, pubs and village shops and we have taken that message further afield.

"In association with our investors, Visit Kent recently took a stand at an exhibition in Cologne, but we were the only UK representative there."

Duncan Leslie, chief executive of Hever Castle, confirmed that visitor numbers were up on the 290,000 recorded in 2009 and that, helped by the weak performance of sterling, there had been "a significant increase in foreign visitors, especially from Germany".

Julian Barnes, managing director of Biddenden Vineyards, also reported an increase in foreign visitors, but added, "it made a huge difference entering the recession with Kent County Council knowing what to do and working together with businesses to come through it."

Sarah Wood, a director of Mulberry Cottages, said "If you are going to promote tourism successfully you need to be able to offer top class accommodation.

"As specialists in self-catering, Mulberry works closely with property developers as well as with farmers who need to make the best use of buildings, even those that are derelict.

"It helps the tourist industry, but it also helps everyone in the community because it leads to a better environment for everyone and creates jobs for ordinary people like cleaners and maintenance staff.

"We have been in business for four years and have doubled our turnover every year.

"And, as a small business, we would not have been able to meet the right people, or attend such functions as the exhibition in Germany, had it not been for Visit Kent".

Dominic Di Cara, general manager of the Ramada Hotel in Maidstone, likened Kent's approach to tourism to a "wartime effort".

He made the point that "Kent does not have a great deal of big industry to rely on for corporate custom.

"Without tourism, hotels like mine, which has a staff of 120, would be in desperate trouble".

Sandra Matthews-Marsh of Visit Kent ended by saying "The Kent partnership model is based on the sum of the parts principle. Public sector funding acts as the glue by investing in tourism and the tour operators invest in Visit Kent – each needs the other.

"This is not a subsidy or free ride. Everyone has to give in order to take."