As the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is called off - believed to be the largest ever sporting event in Britain that's been cancelled, according to Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie, the English Tourism Council sets up a Tourism Cabinet to co-ordinate an industry response to the foot and mouth outbreak. The plan is for the new cabinet to communicate and implement a comprehensive recovery plan in the light of the impact of the disease on both domestic and international tourism to England. Members of the cabinet will also keep a tight line of communication between the ETC and the government to report on the continuing effects of the outbreak on tourism. The first point of action is for the Tourism Cabinet to oversee a PR and advertising campaign to stimulate countryside tourism in England over the Easter and May Bank Holidays and half-term week. An England Visitor Hotline has been established as a signposting service for the public to point users to local sources of up to date information about things to do and see. Welcoming ETC's role in co-ordinating the Cabinet, Mary Lynch, chief executive says she is delighted at the support the Council has received: Our aim is to maintain the Tourism Cabinet as the main co-ordinating body for the industry's recovery plans. The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association are preparing a survey, due to be published this week, quantifying reports that sales are down by more than an estimated 10 per cent due to the foot and mouth crisis.