TOURISM will be top of the agenda at a meeting in Cheltenham later this month.

The Cotswolds Tourism Annual Forum takes place on February 26 at Cheltenham Racecourse and is a chance to hear top tips on business growth as well as networking with others in the industry.

Speakers will include Tom and Henry Herbert of Hobbs House Bakery and Louise Stewart, VisitEngland’s director of partnerships and performance.

They will be joined by Chris Dee, marketing manager of Cotswolds Tourism, and Qing Lin of Join in China who will be discussing the importance of the Chinese Market. The event will be compèred by Rob Rees MBE, The Cotswold Chef.

Gloucestershire’s tourism industry is worth around £1bn annually and Chris Dee said the forum was an ideal opportunity for businesses to get together and find ways of capatilising of that income.

"We have some strong promotional ideas for 2013 and you can’t beat direct contact with our accommodation providers, attractions, retail, restaurants and transport providers," he added.

“We were over-subscribed last year so it’s important that tourism businesses sign up in advance - spaces are limited.”

The talks will be followed by the Cotswolds Travel Market with stands from the Cotswolds Conservation Board, Cotswold Attractions Group, Barclaycard, leaflet distribution companies and Gloucestershire Tourist Information Centres.

Anyone who would like to attend should email tourism@gloucestershire.gov.uk