Norfolk tourism bosses could attract more American tourists if they packaged the county together with Cambridge, the US ambassador to London said on a visit to Norwich.
Matthew Barzun, an internet pioneer who headed Barack Obama's fundraising drive during his 2012 presidential election campaign, said he discussed the issue during a lunch with local dignitaries yesterday.
He said: 'It's important that you don't let local rivalries or distinctions get in the way. One of our discussions at lunch was how would an American think of it? One of the other folks from here was saying let's just say, for the sake of argument, more Americans maybe would probably make Cambridge part of their destination out of London. Don't say 'Well that's not us'. Say 'Well by all means go to Cambridge, and then keep going and come to us', and think about how an American visitor might package it.'
He said his family originally came from Groton, near Ipswich, but he said he was neutral when he visited Old Trafford in April when Norwich City lost 4-0 to Manchester United, and was more concerned about 'my beloved Liverpool' losing to Chelsea the same weekend, losing its chance to win the title.
His said he was committed to 'getting out and about all around the UK', in recognition that London was the governmental, financial and cultural capital of the UK, but most Brits do not live in London.
He said he wanted to find out what is on the minds of young people who will be voting for the first time, and ask what frustrates, confuses or concerns them about America - with guns the issue raised the most.
Today, he will spend an hour with sixth form students at the Langley School, and also meet students at the University of East Anglia.
Langley headmaster Dominic Findlay said: 'It is such an honour to be welcoming the ambassador to Langley School, and this is such a fantastic, once in a lifetime opportunity for our students'.
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