FORMER US President Bill Clinton is to boost the effort to persuade fearful Americans that Britain remains a safe tourist destination despite foot-and-mouth by attending the Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival.
The former President is expected at the major event on Saturday, May 26.
His talk will be on ''conflict resolution'', and will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Festival organiser Peter Florence said: "Clinton is a most charismatic talker - it's a real coup to get him here.
"We wanted to invite people who use language well and tell good stories. Language is the common currency for everyone at the festival."
But the festival organisers will not be alone in seeing the former President in the British countryside.
His presence will be a clear signal to his countrymen that Britain remains a viable tourist destination, despite foot-and-mouth.
It is a message which Tony Blair and his ministers have repeated time and again over recent days, amid fears that the tourist industry will be badly hit by holiday booking cancellations.
On Friday, the United States Tour Operators trade association warned that there was a significant trend towards Americans cancelling planned trips to Britain - with some member companies reporting up to 50 per cent cancellations.
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