Tourism chiefs stranded in London traffic

LONDON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Britain's tourism minister says she's sorry for traffic delays endured by travel officials in London to assess the city's preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

In an embarrassing beginning to World Travel Market conference being held at London's Docklands, tourism leaders from around the world Monday were left stranded on buses and trains thanks to subway closures and snarled ground traffic, The Times of London reported.

Tourism Minister Barbara Follett apologized to the delegates, saying: "I apologize on behalf of the government for the difficult journey that you have had for the two days reaching here. The weather and transport system can be variable in this country."

Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay was 25 minutes late for his Monday press conference after a Docklands Light Railway train malfunctioned, and passengers who were ushered onto replacement buses became stuck in traffic.

"It is obvious traffic will pose a problem (in 2012)," he told the Times. "I thought Istanbul was bad enough."

John Probyn, festival director for Live Nation, Britain's biggest event promoter, told the newspaper London's transportation system has a poor international reputation and "it is getting worse."