DORSET is facing a 2002 Tourism season rethink after losing the cruise ships which bring thousands of Americans to the county.

Now tourism offices are looking to target holidaymakers in this country to both fill the American gap and cash in on uncertainty over foreign travel.

The cruise ship economic bombshell came when Florida-based carrier Renaissance Cruises went out of business, a financial victim of the New York terrorist attacks, leaving Dorset to tighten its vital tourism belt.

Weymouth and Portland marketing and press officer Jacqui Gisborne said: "Losing Renaissance Cruises is such a dreadful shame because we were working with them through Portland Port to develop a new series of tours around Portland and Weymouth.

"This news is a setback but we are now working with Portland Port to generate publicity material to help attract a new cruise company.

"We are also hoping that the international situation which is making some people shy away from foreign holidays will allow us to attract them down to Dorset.

"The potential is there but we will have to come out and market ourselves so that tourists have Dorset in the forefront of their thoughts."

The setback came as West Dorset launched its Holiday Guide 2002 with 130,000 copies to be distributed around the world. The Guide, which is estimated to bring in £4 million for the local economy through tourism, includes 300 places to stay and 40 attractions to visit.

Tourism development manager Amanda Park said: "Our guide is now more important than ever. Losing the revenue from cruise visitors is a problem but we will have to explore every avenue open to us to attract new visitors so the gap can be filled."

Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce president Tony Harris said: "The news is a bit devastating.

"It is very sad that Renaissance Cruises has gone out of business, but hopefully another cruise company will use this opportunity to take their business over.

"We must also try to attract visitors from a wider area to get the biggest response we can from the home tourism market, particularly now we are so close to having World Heritage Status granted for this part of our Jurassic coastline."

Portland Port communications director Rupert Best said the company not only planned to try and attract a new cruise company and new visitors to Portland but was also pressing ahead with other business plans for ship refuelling, land development and road improvements.

He said: "It is a sign of confidence in the level of service offered by the Port that Renaissance, having visited four times in 2001, were planning to make nine calls in 2002. Passenger and crew spend in Weymouth and Portland is of direct benefit to many businesses."

Abbotsbury Tourism's John Houston, representing attractions such as the Sub-Tropical Gardens, was disappointed at news. He said: "Visitors from the ships brought valuable revenue with them. We must now hope that a replacement company can be found."

Weymouth and Portland Hotels and Catering Association president Rita Coxon said: "It is a great loss for tourism in the area, but the influx of Americans was not great enough to have a serious effect on hoteliers here.

"Cruise ship visits are a good idea and the Association certainly hopes that the gap can be quickly filled."