I had an interesting debate on Friday morning with hoteliers, restaurant and bar owners, and other members of the Tourism Alliance in Brighton and Hove.

The tourism sector here employs around 17,000 people and accounts for around £738 million worth of economic activity, so it's hugely important.

Behind such statistics is the colourful reality of world class events like Brighton Festival, Pride, the Food Festival, and Burning the Clocks.  

The vibrancy and uniqueness of local independent shops in North Laine and the Lanes also add enormously to the value of our tourism on offer.

The city rightfully has a very strong profile beyond a ‘seaside resort', and there are many reasons to come here all year round, in all weathers. 

I am incredibly proud of this appeal as a tourist destination, whilst also mindful of the pressures that this can bring with it.

In particular, there are understandable tensions over the night-time economy, which attracts many tourists to the city's nightclubs and bars, but which can also impact local residents negatively in terms of noise and anti-social behaviour.

?Measures to widen the late night precept and extend policing, using the Localism Bill to give the local council more powers over licencing in general, and perhaps a bit more discrimination in the events we attract (personally, I'm not 100% convinced of the value to the city of the zombie march, for example!) might all have a part to play.

?I'm also keen to widen the city's appeal as a Green tourism destination, and look forward to working further with local businesses to promote their environmental credentials more strongly.

In my maiden speech to Parliament I referred to Brighton as the UK's leading conference and tourism resort, and I am absolutely committed to our keeping this status.