The Sussex tourist industry could enjoy a boost in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

That's the message from Dr Andrew Clegg, a geography lecturer at the University College of Chichester, who predicts tourists will flock to the seaside instead of flying abroad for holidays.

He said: "I realise it sounds callous but sometimes out of a crisis comes opportunity.

"People who have not perhaps been to Brighton for ten years or more will be looking to come back instead of going abroad.

"Many places will be able to recapture markets which have been lost over many years."

Dr Clegg said resorts like Brighton, Eastbourne, Worthing and Bognor could benefit because of the new fear of flying, the restructuring of the airline industry and growing fears of a recession in the UK.

With many Americans unwilling to venture abroad, tourism bosses are bracing themselves for a drop in big-spending foreign visitors.

The attacks have already led to cancelled holiday bookings to cities like Bath, which has been being badly affected.

Ed Woolard, a tourism development manager for Chichester, where the industry is said to be worth £50 million a year, said there had already been cancellations from America which had fortunately come at the end of the tourist season.

He said while an increase in American visitors may not be possible next year, Chichester's main domestic market should remain buoyant with day visitors and people booking weekend breaks.

He said: "We also attract a lot of visitors from Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany and although it is not possible to say definitely at this stage, these markets should not be affected."

Dr Clegg said historic towns in Sussex still needed to promote their attractions in the US, particularly following the foot-and-mouth crisis.

He said: "It you look back to events such as the Gulf War, people were put off travelling abroad and the intensity of recent events could take longer to overcome.

"If it is a long and prolonged affair the uncertainty could go on for years. But if any conflict is short and swift, confidence could be quickly restored.

"It is now more important than ever for the tourist industry to go to America to encourage people to come. When there is hesitation or uncertainty about a product you do need to go out and sell it."

The tourist industry in Sussex is worth £1.6 billion, with 55,000 people relying directly on it for their jobs, the equivalent of 11 per cent of all employees.

Thousands more who work at Gatwick airport rely indirectly on tourism for their livelihoods.

Early next year Arun and Chichester District Councils had planned to join forces to take part in a major tourist event in the US.

Uncertainty now hangs over the campaign at Travel Trade exhibitions, which was designed to promote the heritage and culture of Roman Chichester and Arundel.

Mr Woolard said: "At the moment we're waiting to see if the roadshow goes ahead and we may not know for a week or so.

"American tourists are the second-highest spending markets after the Japanese and we want people coming to stay in areas like London to also consider coming out to rural locations as well."