A VITAL strategy to promote tourism across the region is facing a five-month delay, it was revealed yesterday.

Regional development agency One NorthEast wrote to small businesses in January saying it would have a strategy in place by last month.

But agency bosses last night said it will not be ready until October.

Tourism brings £1.6bn a year to the region, and guesthouse owners fear a lack of progress by One NorthEast could result in a fall in bookings for next year, which would have a serious impact on the North-East economy.

They came together yesterday in Sunderland to highlight their lack of confidence in One NorthEast.

Teesdale businessman Hugh Becker said: "With tourism, you are planning and taking action now for a year ahead. One NorthEast do not seem to have grasped this."

Kate MacNaught, One NorthEast's interim tourism manager, blamed the delay on a 12-week consultation due to start at the end of this month.

The agency took over responsibility for tourism in the North-East on April 1 from the now-defunct Northumbria Tourist Board (NTB).

It said half the seats on a new regional tourism forum would be given to businesses.

But former NTB members are concerned that One NorthEast was too focused on large projects and was not interested in what small businesses have to contribute.

Yesterday, they launched a campaign to press home their case.

Judith Stephenson runs Bradley Burn Farm, in Wolsingham, County Durham, and is regional director of Farmstay UK, which represents farms that provide guest accommodation.

She said: "Members have previously relied on NTB to guide visitors to the area.

"Once people are attracted to the area, we can do our own work. We are not expecting to be spoon-fed, but we need help."

Ms MacNaught said: "The views of tourism businesses of every size are important."

She said the takeover of NTB was already a success, with bookings up after a £260,000 national marketing campaign. The campaign sparked controversy by omitting Sunderland from its brochure.

The agency said it had already earmarked £4.3m to spend on tourism projects this year.