The Tourism Society in the UK has organised a special Briefing and Question Time to discuss the effects of the tsunami in Asia on the international tourism industry.

The session will be part of the society’s annual Prospects for Tourism meeting already scheduled for 10 January, being held at the Sofitel St James Hotel in London.

In addition to the range of speakers looking at Britain’s tourism industry in 2005, Geoffrey Lipman, special advisor to the secretary general of the UN World Tourism Organisation, will talk about international actions supporting tourism recovery and redevelopment efforts.

Alongside him, Ian Reynolds, CEO of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), will discuss the UK travel industry’s immediate, short-term and longer-term actions and the implications of the disaster. Details: www.tourismsociety.org