THE £50 billion tourism industry in England needs a steady stream of up-to-date market research if it is to build on its sucess and see new ideas fly, tourism Minister Janet Anderson said today.

A new English Tourism Council report, Perspec- tives on English Tourism, gives the initial analysis of the state of the industry.

It is the result of a government plan to raise the profile of the tourism industry which already employs 1.5million people in England alone.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Mrs Anderson said: "No business can plan effectively for the future without a good and up-to-date understanding of how its market operates -- what has worked in the past, what has failed, and what changes are taking place.

"The Government wants the UK tourism industry to build on its successes by playing to its strengths.

"And we also want to see new ideas and initiatives succeed. There is no shortage of good ideas, and we are determined that they should get off to a flying start.

"But for this to happen top quality market research must be a priority."