As A resort, Brighton and Hove has not been badly affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis and the terrible events in America on September 11.

Many people who would have gone to the country for holidays went to the coast instead when rural areas were out of bounds and some people holidayed at home rather than risk flying abroad.

But there has been a definite downturn in international visitors since September and nowhere has that been more apparent than at the Royal Pavilion.

Visitors to the Pavilion have dropped by about 20 per cent, in line with other national attractions as many tourists, especially Americans, refuse to fly.

Brighton and Hove City Council, the only local authority to run a former palace, can't do much on its own to bring back the missing visitors from abroad.

But it can and will make efforts to ensure as many visitors to Britain as possible visit Prinny's fantastic palace.

The council intends to market the Pavilion better next spring when the neighbouring Dome and museum are fully open again after restoration.

Few UK cities will have a cultural quarter to compare with Brighton's when that happens and it should be a major tourist attraction.