East Midlands Tourism welcomed yesterday’s announcement that the 2012 Olympics will be heading to London. Based on the Sydney Olympics it is estimated that the 2012 Olympics could contribute over £2 billion to Britain’s visitor economy.

Richard Dickinson, chief executive of East Midlands Tourism, the region’s tourism development body said: “We are really delighted with this decision as it creates huge opportunities for the tourism industry in the East Midlands. The region’s proximity to London and the fact that it has strong sporting links means that both leisure and business tourism stands to benefit. We can offer a wide variety of activities and attractions to visitors looking to experience something of Britain outside of London, as well as world class facilities to accommodate athletes looking for a base to prepare for the games.”

Steve Brown, chairman of East Midlands Tourism said: “Yesterday’s announcement is fantastic news and we would like to congratulate the Olympic 2012 team. This is an incredible achievement and a great outcome for all those that have worked so hard to bring the games to London. This announcement provides a huge opportunity for the East Midlands to raise its profile internationally, and we will be working closely with our tourism partners to help them maximise on the significant benefits these games offer.”

Tourism in the East Midlands is already worth £4.4 billion and provides jobs for around 150,000 people. East Midlands Tourism has set a number of targets to increase tourism and raise quality standards, which will help ensure the industry is in a strong position to capitalise on the visitor influx the Olympics will generate.