Second City? Not in tourism stakes; TRAVEL: Promoters under fire as Brum fails to make top ten destination list.

Byline: By Poppy Brady

BIRMINGHAM may be Britain's second city but when it comes to the top ten destinations in the UK we don't get a look in, according to the official website of the British Tourist Industry.

We're beaten by Manchester, Liverpool and York. The only Midland venue to make the top ten is Stratford-upon-Avon, which rolls in at number ten.

Not surprisingly, London takes the top slot, but the rankings have infuriated Melvyn Haigh, the festival organiser of the Birmingham St George's Day Association, who criticised the people responsible for promoting the city.

Mr Haigh looked at the website www.visitbritain.com with a view to promoting Birmingham's big St George's Day event which involves a sell-out concert at Symphony Hall on Saturday, April 26.

"I was shocked to see Birmingham not even mentioned," said Small

Heath-born Melvyn, aged 64, a former courier.

"A lot of people are very passionate about Birmingham and it is appalling to see it sold short in this way. The people responsible for promoting our city must be doing a pretty poor job of it."

A spokesman for Visit Britain said: "Although we try to base our top ten lists on statistical evidence wherever possible, this can prove limiting in showcasing the rich variety of destinations throughout Britain. "Our aim is to create a list of destinations primarily for international visitors that combines the familiar with the less well known.

"Birmingham remains a popular choice for international visitors and in the top five for business and leisure visits.

"We will continue to draw as much attention to its new attractions, events and experiences as we possibly can."

A spokeswoman for Marketing Birmingham said: "We're deeply disappointed that Birmingham is not in the top ten best cities featured on Visit

Britain's website, which is voted by the public.

"Birmingham has featured on Destination of the Month on the enjoyengland.com website and only last week hosted more than 300 travel organisers to help get the message across that Birmingham is a young, cosmopolitan city."

John Lamb, of Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce, said Birmingham had appeared as the fourth most visited British city according to the International Passenger Survey, for the past eight years.

Where the tourists are going...

Britain's top ten destinations according to the British Tourist Industry:

1. London.

2. Edinburgh.

3. Cardiff.

4. Belfast.

5. Bath.

6. Cornwall.

7. Manchester.

8. Liverpool.

9. York.

10. Stratford-upon-Avon.

CAPTION(S):

INFURIATED...Melvyn Haigh, the festival organiser of the Birmingham St George's Day Association. Picture: Roy Smiljanic Photo ref: RS170308BRUM-01; TOP SPOT... the capital.; IN AT SEVEN... northern rival.; LORRA VISITORS... Beatles land.