UK's funny bone tickled in tourism campaign

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Rude, fussy and incompetent, television hotelier Basil Fawlty seems an unlikely character to be promoting British tourism.

But a six-month campaign, announced on Tuesday, will enlist "local comedy heroes" such as John Cleese's eccentric character, to boost visitor numbers.

The Comedy England campaign hopes to encourage tourists to "explore English destinations linked to our rich and diverse comedic history and heritage", the VisitBritain national tourism body announced.

Sites associated with other famous comedians such as Jennifer Saunders, Lenny Henry and Laurel and Hardy will also be included.

The campaign, costing about 100,000 pounds, intends to highlight 150 of the country's "comedic locations" including the resort of Torquay, the location of Fawlty Towers, and Turville, Buckinghamshire, where the Vicar of Dibley starring Dawn French was set.

Live comedy venues also get a plug as well as historic buildings with a comedy connection such as the Laurel and Hardy Museum at Ulverston in Cumbria, northwest England.

Initially aimed at local audiences, officials from the tourism body said that if successful it will be extended world-wide.

"England is renowned for producing some of the best comedy in the world and our sense of humor is a trait that the English are famous for," said the campaign's general manager of marketing, Laurence Bresh.

"Comedy is an integral part of our heritage and culture and the ... campaign will encourage visitors to explore some of the regions, locations and attractions which have contributed to this."

For more information visit: www.enjoyengland.com/comedy

(Editing by Stephen Addison and Matthew Jones)