BOURNEMOUTH has made a ‘tremendously exciting’ bid for £2million to set up a national academy of business and tourism.

Head of tourism Mark Smith said the town is on the final shortlist of 10 from more than 100 applications and has a ‘fighting chance’ of winning the money.

Mr Smith, speaking at the May meeting of Bourne-mouth chamber of trade, said the money would come from the government’s Coastal Comm-unities Fund.

The plan comes from the ashes of last year’s failed bid for £4million from the regional growth fund.

Mr Smith said the idea is make Bournemouth famous for business and tourism excellence in the same way that, for example, Loughbrough is known for sport.

If successful, the council would work on the academy with Bournemouth University.

Mr Smith added: “There’s only one other country in the world with a national tourism academy – China.”