DATE=04/12/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / HOOF AND MOUTH (L Only)

NUMBER=2-274848

BYLINE=TOM RIVERS

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Britain's chief scientific advisor believes that the crisis over hoof-and-mouth disease may be past its peak. But that assessment has come too late to help Britain's tourist trade over the critical Easter holiday period. Tom Rivers in London says times are tough in all sectors of the rural economy.

TEXT: Traditionally, the four-day Easter break - from Friday through Monday - is the first busy weekend of the holiday year in Britain. And for small hotels, restaurants and pubs in the countryside, it represents the first time to generate some real income after months of relative inactivity during the long, gray British winter.

That is how it normally works. But this year, the spillover effects of the hoof-and-mouth outbreak have thrown the usual income and visitor projections into a downward spiral.

The outbreak of the disease is now in its eighth week. Tens of thousands of farm animals have been killed to try to halt the epidemic. The British government's chief scientific adviser says he is cautiously optimistic that the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease may be past its peak.

Leading politicians like Prime Minister Tony Blair - have been urging people to visit some of the British countryside.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

Even if you go right into the heart of the countryside, it is only that people do not go through the livestock parts because that is the scientific advice to be ultra cautious on that at the moment. But everything else is open.

/// END ACT ///

However, for British restaurant owners like, Andrew Lysser, business can only be described as "bad."

/// LYSSER ACT ///

We have taken an 80 percent hit in the last two months. You know, we should normally be doing 20, 30, 40 (people) a night in week periods and busier at weekends, but we are doing absolutely nothing.

/// END ACT ///

It may be that the message that the countryside is open has come through too late. Given the uncertainly over access to rural areas, record numbers of Britons booked get-aways weeks ago. And that means the airports and ports are clogged. David O'Brien is with Ryan-Air at London's Stansted airport.

/// O'BRIEN ACT ///

Easter has always been busy, but this year is especially busy. We have added seven new routes to our system. We have opened a new base in Brussels. We have added about 30 percent. And that 30 percent is effectively full.

/// END ACT ///

The same story is being told at the cross-channel ferry ports. Nick Stevens works for the Hoverspeed ferry firm where the number of British tourists heading to the European continent is up by 26 percent this Easter, but the number of Europeans coming to Britain remains low.

/// STEVENS ACT ///

They still see that much of Britain is closed and have decided not to travel.

/// END ACT ///

The combined effects of Britons getting away and foreigners staying away means Britain's small rural businesses are being hit twice, despite the best intentions and reassurances from politicians of all parties. (Signed)

NEB/TR/GE/KBK