As the Foot and Mouth crisis deepens, the financial cost is rippling across many sectors including tourism, hospitality, food companies and bookmakers. Quoted in the Sunday Times, Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association said he estimated the cost of the crisis at £20m a week for hotels; he estimated that the cancellation of the Cheltenham race festival alone would cost local hoteliers up to £10m: People are not going into the country for the weekend. And the problem is almost certainly going to get worse. The British Betting Office Association has calculated that the country's 400 bookmaking firms have lost up to 60 per cent in revenues in the past week, culminating in many operations running at a loss. Activities affected now include motor sport, motor racing and rally events, all footpaths and rights of way across farmland, canals, waterways and two paths in restricted areas, 200 square miles of Dartmoor - closed to walkers, cyclists and horse riders; the New Forest national park; all national Trust parts in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Co Durham; large parts of the Lake District and Peak District; Exmoor National Park; many National Trust properties; safari parks and zoos and city farms. Tourism Minister, Janet Anderson, has called a meeting for tomorrow when foot and mouth is expected to be on the agenda. Rural tourism is valued at £12bn a year and accounts for 380,000 jobs. The rural economy stands to lose £2bn if the Easter holiday trade in farms, country cottages, bed and breakfasts and hotels is affected by the outbreak. The Sports Council for Wales has advised sports bodies to consult the National Assembly for Wales website: www.wales.gov.uk - for up to date guidance.