What is Blair doing to get tourists back to the countryside

asks Riley:
A. Tony Blair, along with John Prescott and other Government ministers, has been visiting rural areas and having pub lunches in country inns in order to reinforce the message that 'the countryside is open'.

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Q. Have they been rambling
A. Not yet. Mr Blair has visited the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, West Yorks, and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, and later in the week he visited Devon and had a pub lunch. Mr Prescott has been cruising on the Norfolk Broads.

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On Wednesday, Professor David King, the Prime Minister's Chief Scientific Adviser, said, 'It is perfectly safe to visit country pubs, village teashops, stately homes, craft fairs, country museums or anywhere else in the countryside where there is no livestock. Even where people are walking or riding on open rights of way across farmland, the risk of spreading the disease is low, provided they follow Government advice.'

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Q. So what's going to be open over Easter
A. Many major tourist attractions are open, such as Longleat safari park, in Wiltshire (although the giraffes, elephants, llamas, antelopes and camels, which can become infected with foot-and-mouth, are out of bounds). Many zoos and National Trust properties are now open, as is Stonehenge.

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Q. What about the footpaths
A. There's some dispute over which footpaths should be reopened. Fuelled by new advice from scientists which suggests that foot and mouth can't be spread by people using country footpaths, the Ramblers Association is doing its best to have all paths reopened.

The Government is trying to persuade local authorities to re-open footpaths in disease-free areas, and many authorities are responding. Some, however, feel that the risk of letting walkers back into the countryside has been underestimated.

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Q. What are the benefits of going to the countryside
A. Apart from bringing some business to the cash-starved tourist industry As long as you follow local guidelines and don't create a risk, you can have a ball.

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Q. Why
A. No coachloads of tourists, less traffic on the roads, you can find a bed & breakfast or hotel room easily, cafes, restaurants and pubs are quiet, and tourist attractions quiet. Some people might even say that there's never been a better time to visit the countryside...

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To find out more about where you can travel to in the countryside, read our travel article here

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Do you have something to say about opening up the countryside Post your view here

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By Sheena Miller