It comes amid growing concern that this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn Statement will see the axe fall heavily on non-protected departments such as the department for culture, media and sport.

The move could see drastic cuts for the UK’s national tourism boards, VisitEngland and VisitBritain. 

In a recent survey of its 350 members, UKinbound reported that 80% said that support from local or national tourist boards was important for their business.

In the letter to George Osborne, Deirdre Wells said: “VisitBritain and VisitEngland are recognised universally as having done an enormous amount to deliver the step change in visitor numbers to the UK which we have seen in recent years.

“However, both organisations suffered cuts in the previous Spending Round which resulted in core activity, such as business support and the overseas network being reduced dramatically. There is a real concern within the industry that a further cut in this Spending Round - to an already modest budget - will have a serious impact on vital services.

Every extra visitor who comes to the UK brings an additional £630 in export earnings and contributes £216 to the Exchequer; therefore supporting VisitBritain and VisitEngland in growing this industry further is sensible economics.”