The London 2012 Olympic Games could bring in over £2 billion to the UK economy from overseas tourists and will provide "enormous opportunites" for businesses across Britain.

That's according to Tom Wright, the VisitBritain chief executive who claims that although foreign visitors spent a record £14.3 billion in the UK last year that figure could be dramatically boosted thanks to the capital's hosting of the Games.

"Our figure of a £2 billion boost from the Olympics is based on talking to other cities who have hosted recent Olympics such as Sydney and Barcelona.

"The eyes of the world will be entirely on Britain, not just during the Olympics but afterwards as well.

"The Olympics offers Britain the chance to appeal to a host of new markets and encourage visitors and business conference people to come here for years afterwards."

Addressing a media conference at London's Tower Bridge today, Mr Wright said initiatives were being planned to encourage more UK visitors to tour their own country.

Last year for every £1 UK residents spent in Britain, £2.32 was spent by UK residents on overseas trips. This resulted in a tourism balance of payments deficit of more than £17 billion.

Mr Wright predicted that India would emerge by 2020 as the UK's second-biggest overseas tourist market behind America in the long-haul tourism market.

He said UK-India air links were increasing and there were growing numbers of Indians wishing to visit the UK to see friends and relatives and for educational purposes.

( www.24dash.com)