Last updated 11:47, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

THE British Museum anticipates its new exhibition on the Emperor Hadrian could lead to a tourism boom for Cumbria, with holidaymakers travelling enthusiastically to visit the Roman Wall. Every cloud...

And as luck would have it, there’s many a cloud casting potentially lucrative shadows over Cumbria this summer.

It’s already known that the gloomy national economy is persuading large numbers to take UK holidays this year rather than pay premium rates for high season foreign trips. Many of those are heading for the Lakes and north Cumbria.

The strength of the Euro against the struggling pound is adding further to the woes of families who would normally holiday on the continent, making British breaks the more affordable option.

Now Hadrian’s legacy is providing icing on the cake of tourist attractions already known as among the finest in the UK.

Over 100,000 people will see the exhibition and it’s hoped many more will be inspired to visit Cumbria to explore his most recognised landmark – the World Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall. If Cumbria can match visitors’ expectations with superior accommodation, superlative service and warm welcome, the county may yet buck downturn trends blighting other parts of the UK.

Ingredients of unmissable opportunity are here. Now it’s up to Cumbrians to rise to the challenge, grasp possibility and turn it into reality.