THERE’S no tourism going on at the moment, so different areas are finding creative ways to promote what they have to offer.

Visit Britain decided to join this trend last night by reposting a map of “British literature”, placing authors and their characters across it corresponding to their geographical location.

The idea had good intentions – we’re all reading more in lockdown (or, cough, trying to). The only issue was they didn’t get around to expanding the map beyond England …

In a now-deleted tweet, the tourism body wrote: “Harry Potter, Dracula, Lord of the Rings, Wuthering Heights and so many more Books Explore the places that inspired these and other classics and sent British literature around the world,” followed by a link through to their website to read about the books and authors in detail.

The National:

Once you arrive at the website, however, the title of the project changes to “England’s map of literary heroes”. This added confusion as the map featured work by Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle and Cardiff-born Roald Dahl.

Even Harry Potter – a book thought up by JK Rowling in Edinburgh – was put in the Alnwick area of the north of England because it was a filming location in the movie adaptations.

Writer and presenter David C Weinczok had an issue with that in particular.

He wrote: "So Sherlock, written by a Scot and based on a Scot, is now claimed by London; England now extends well into Scotland with Alnwick Castle relocating to the Borders; Irish writers identities are erased and Scotland is literally vanished. Very, very early 19th century of you."

Welsh singer Cerys Matthews wasn’t impressed with the map – responding: “You confuse Britain with England.”

One Twitter user was concerned by the lack of iconic authors from both Wales and Scotland. They wrote: “I'd get a Kindle if I were you and read Irvine Welsh, Val Mcdermid, Dylan Thomas, Iain Banks, Jan Morris, Muriel Spark, Roald Dahl, Dick Francis, Ken Follett, Robert Louis Stevenson, then figure out from which part of Britain they hail on this map of England. Honestly.”

Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru member of the Welsh Assembly, asked if it was “amateur hour” at Visit Britain.

She posted: “Is this amateur hour at @VisitBritain ? You appear to have confused Britain and England and have ignored Welsh literature entirely, even though Wales is on that map. I rather think the land of the Mabinogion and R.S.Thomas deserves more than bushes and trees. Don't you?”

Visit Britain's post was deleted this morning. National contributor Gerry Hassan called it a "small victory".

He wrote: "A small victory. @VisitBritain have deleted their Visit England literary map forgetting Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. Here it is for posterity. And please Visit Britain try harder or rename yourself Visit England."

A spokesperson for Visit Britain said: “The VisitEngland literary heroes map was tweeted from VisitBritain’s consumer channel in error and the tweet has since been removed.  

"VisitBritain sincerely apologises for this mistake. VisitEngland’s literary heroes map of English literary locations was created to inspire domestic visitors to explore the destinations and literary attractions across the country brought to life through books. 

“Sherlock Holmes was included on the map as the character is based in London’s Baker Street and Roald Dahl was included as he lived in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire for many years where there is a museum dedicated to the author.”

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