The British Tourist Authority (BTA) is to make business tourism the main plank of its long-term strategy to boost the country's income from tourism.

According to the BTA, research into international passenger trends has forecast that 'by 2010 business tourism might account for 45 per cent of inbound tourism expenditure.'

The authority has highlighted what it says are the four key areas for attention: the rapid development of new media; strengthening of partnerships with the public and private sector; greater synergy between England, Scotland, Wales and London; how BTA as an organisation will align itself to deliver its new marketing objectives.

BTA's chief executive Tom Wright said: "It is clear that international travellers are increasingly discerning and, often as a result of web browsing, even better informed. Technology is also bringing massive changes in the way that tourism information is distributed and sales are made. BTA's marketing of Britain will reflect these changes and our new strategy outlines how we plan to target new overseas markets and strengthen our focus on core sectors such as business tourism".

By the end of March 2003 BTA will have dedicated business tourism resource in each of the eight regional hubs around the world - Australasia, the Americas, Asia, Central Europe, Middle East/Africa, Nordic, Southern Europe and Western Europe.