TOURISM is crucial to York, employing ten per cent of the city's workforce. That is why the York Hospitality Association's warning about "bad apple" guest house owners should be taken seriously.

Tourism is a fiercely competitive industry. People have limited leisure time and money, and Britain must contend with cheap foreign holidays. Every destination is striving to persuade tourists not only to visit, but to return.

York has so many attractions that it is easy to become complacent. But if tourists endure poor service they will not come back, however breathtaking they found the Minster.

Yesterday we reported the city council's determination to improve the cleanliness of public toilets. As the Evening Press Easter investigation had found, many were dirty and unhygienic - hardly creating the best impression.

Now those on the frontline of the tourist industry are under scrutiny. Nearly a third of all complaints about accommodation to the Yorkshire Tourism Board concerned York.

This is a worrying figure. York possesses hundreds of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts. But they make up only a small proportion of those in Yorkshire as a whole, which includes all the East Coast resorts, the Harrogate conference centres and major cities like Leeds and Sheffield.

There is no doubt that York boasts some wonderful hotels offering high standards of service: the annual tourism awards recognise these contributions. But their excellent work is being undermined by "bad apples".

Everyone who runs a guest house should realise the importance of clean and comfortable surroundings and service that puts the customer first. Unfortunately it seems York is home to more than one Basil Fawlty, and that is no laughing matter.

The tourist industry must improve the situation. All hospitality businesses are being urged to sign up to the Yorkshire Tourist Board's inspection scheme.

This is a step in the right direction. Everyone in this important industry has a vested interested in putting its guest house in order.

Updated: 10:07 Thursday, May 02, 2002