THIS week's atrocious weather notwithstanding, the tourism business in the North-East and North Yorkshire appears to be recovering well this year after the foot-and-mouth disaster of 2001.

Spectator's contacts in the Yorkshire Dales' B&B trade suggest that holidaymakers have not forgotten how wonderful the area is and have been keen to come back. Importantly, the industry seems to have reached out to a slightly different market.

As well as the regulars returning, people new to the dales are showing interest, often for longer periods than the odd night at weekends. Other tourism-related business are also doing well.

There is still concern, however, about the non-tourism rural economy. This week's Newcastle University report on the impact of foot-and-mouth on the wider rural economy makes for worrying reading. While the farm and the tourism sectors may be recovering, other rural businesses could struggle to return to pre-FMD levels of turnover and profitability for many years. Most at risk are those firms with 10 or fewer employees - so-called micro-businesses.

The suggestion is that these businesses may not have benefited from the cash aid available at the time of the crisis and found it hard to get advice, too.

Whilst the main thrust of rural regeneration efforts have been aimed at the farm and tourism industries, there is a clear message for government that other parts of a highly interdependent rural economy need help too.

On the case

THE National Beef Association is obviously doing a good job representing farmers.

A colleague rang the Defra press office in London and said the call was in regard pf a press release from the NBA. The instant response from an harrassed press officer was a cry of "Oh, God!"

"I take it you know what I am ringing about," said the reporter.

"I don't know, they seem to issue something every day," said the press officer.

A fine testimony to their campaigning tactics.