TOURISM brings in millions of pounds to the south coast every year.

And a Southampton MP is backing a campaign by a major hotel chain to push tourism up the Government’s agenda and bring in more tourism money to Hampshire.

Alan Whitehead says backing Travelodge’s campaign could eventually mean a jobs and investment bonanza for Southampton and the south coast.

Travelodge bosses believe 300,000 jobs, many of them on the south coast, could be created by 2020 in the UK’s tourism industry.

But they say a lack of Government action may prevent this from happening, and they have asked for the support of MPs across the country to help promote the tourism industry in Westminster.

A report put together by the hotel chain says that tourism has outperformed other areas of the economy, despite the UK’s recent economic woes.

It also showed that Southampton enjoyed a 14 per cent increase in visitor numbers despite the doubledip economy, with 871,000 people visiting the city in 2011 compared to 762,000 in 2007.

The chain has put forward a ten-point plan calling for the Government to move tourism from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and set up a dedicated taskforce to boost tourism.

To see the local benefits of the tourism industry, Dr Whitehead visited Travelodge’s Eastleigh Central hotel to experience how the industry can create jobs, help people out of long-term unemployment and create long-term careers.

Dr Whitehead said: “I think the change in tourist habits means a lot more people are having holidays and weekend breaks in the UK.

“The statistics show that visitor numbers in Southampton are up, and if we are able to sustain those numbers to Southampton then that’s good news for jobs and businesses here.

“As the UK’s fastest growing industry, more local people are getting jobs within the sector and more local businesses are benefiting.

“That’s why I will be supporting this scheme and pushing the Government to do more to encourage tourism in this country.”