A MASSIVE marketing campaign to lure holidaymakers to Suffolk has been launched on London's main line and underground stations routes.The county's big push will also include media and online advertising to encourage the short breaks market as well as extolling the virtues for family holidays as the British revise their travel plans in the economic downturn.

A MASSIVE marketing campaign to lure holidaymakers to Suffolk has been launched on London's main line and underground stations routes.

The county's big push will also include media and online advertising to encourage the short breaks market as well as extolling the virtues for family holidays as the British revise their travel plans in the economic downturn.

The two-week poster campaign on London Underground, launched yesterday, has the message 'Visit Suffolk' and will be shown right across the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines.

Posters at Liverpool Street and main line stations across the East of England will be aimed at day trippers while those at other London termini will home in on those seeking a short break who previously would have gone to European destinations.

More than 300,000 copies of the Choose Suffolk brochure have been printed and distributed throughout the East of England at tourist centres, information points, libraries and railway stations.

Alex Paul, tourism manager at Choose Suffolk Tourism Partnership, said: 'People are more hesitant to fly overseas because of recession fears, the need to save, and the current exchange rate.

'Suffolk is ideally placed to attract visitors and our campaign is designed to attract people who are tightening their belts. The county is particularly accessible by train, being just an hour away from the capital, and with our glorious countryside and marvellous coastline, we believe we have what it takes to be an alternative to overseas destinations.'

Mr Paul added: 'Local authorities, tourist attractions, hoteliers and restaurant owners are fully behind this campaign.

'We are promoting the whole of Suffolk - town, country and coast. We have much to offer those who have never previous considered spending their short breaks or longer holidays in Britain.

'Travel patterns are changing. We are ready to persuade people to enjoy their time off in Suffolk by telling them what a great place it is.'

The tourism partnership has also revamped its web site - www.visit-suffolk.org.uk - and it has a video link, gives visitors the opportunity to sign up for a newsletter, and contains pages in Dutch, German, French and Spanish.