TOURISM chiefs are forging a new strategy to maximise marketing of the Salisbury district.

In response to the international situation, they have decided to put more focus on European and domestic visitors and not to pump extra cash into the US market.

So far, the strategy appears to be working, with the number of tourists coming to the district reported to be at a level similar to last year's.

District council tourism development manager Cris Emberson said: "We are not going to abandon the US market but we are going to do extra work domestically and in Europe.

"We are particularly working on encouraging day visits and weekend breaks. We have a broad strategy and this has helped us ride this year's storms better than other areas."

American tourists remain nervous of travelling in the wake of the terrorist atrocities and have tended to stay away from Salisbury during the autumn.