England's' tourism industry could potentially be harmed by the publication of a new travel guide which claims the country is a nation of "overweight, binge-drinking reality TV addicts".
The latest edition of the Rough Guide to England describes two different sides to the country, with one saying the nation is "obsessed with toffs and C-list celebrities", while also being "a country of animal-loving, tea-drinking charity donors".
Foreign tourists are warned in the book that the English are the most contradictory people imaginable and you will never figure them out no matter how much time you spend in the country.
Country Life magazine reports that Visit Britain have responded to the publication by reassuring potential tourists about what they will encounter whilst visiting England.
"People should not take these comments seriously. The comments demonstrate the quirkiness of the English personality that is so attractive to many visitors," it said.
Visit Britain estimates that 16 million foreign tourists will visit London during 2008, an increase of 2.5 per cent on the figures for 2007.
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