SOUTH Dorset will be "one of the biggest tourism winners from the Olympics", an industry expert believes.

But planning and funding must improve significantly, Tourism Society Think Tank chairman Ken Robinson warned business leaders in Bournemouth.

"Approach it in the right way and it will be the biggest thing that has happened to tourism in a generation," said Mr Robinson.

But "the government has spent a lot of time fooling itself and us into how the Olympics will be run".

Mr Robinson was addressing the Hospitality South Forum at the two-day Hotel & Catering Show.

He warned of the "Pavlovian dog" effect of the word "Olympics" and highlighted the myths surrounding:

  • Training camps - "an awful lot of nonsense has been talked about these. In general they are a total and utter waste of time (for tourism businesses).

"Public facilities go out of use while you have the North Koreans swimming up and down."

  • Torch relay - "People are not going to go on holiday to Bournemouth because of the torch relay."
  • Cultural Olympiad - "Nobody knows what it is. It all depends on budget and nobody is going to give it to you."

There was a major difference between Olympics-related tourists - athletes, organisers and press who would have to attend the Games - and Olympics-motivated visitors who would come simply because their attention had been drawn to London and Dorset by media coverage.

Tourism businesses should target Olympics-motivated visitors - this would be by far the biggest market, said Mr Robinson.

South West Tourism marketing director Robin Barker said: "2012 is a fantastic opportunity.

"The endgame is to create a lasting and discernible tourism legacy from the 2012 Games."

Bournemouth Mayor Cllr Bob Chapman said this area needed greater tourism funding. Too much went to Devon and Cornwall.

  • The Hospitality South Forum was sponsored by Sibbett Gregory, the Daily Echo, Dorset Echo, Poole Tourism, Bournemouth Tourism, Dorset New Forest Tourism and Dorset County Council.