Visit Britain campaign: 'Staycation? Not likely... I'm off to Greece' You can tell when an argument is in danger of being lost: National Treasures are dragged in to shout it from the rooftops in their professionally coached accents. Today sees the first airing of a new television ad hyping homegrown tourism and featuring Stephen Fry, Julie Walters, Rupert Grint and that actress off Downton Abbey. "Why on earth would anyone want to go abroad in twenty twelve?" inquires Fry fruitily, leaving no dramatic pause for the barrage of answers that will be hurled at screens up and down the land. The £4-million commercial by the tourist boards of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is aimed at the many sensible people who may be planning to head for the exits this summer. The hoopla surrounding the London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and the general air of compulsory enjoyment that is gathering force, are rapidly acquiring a quasi-religious tone. But not everyone is a believer, and tourism authorities are increasingly concerned that 2012, far from being a bumper year, might turn into a damp squib as people choose to take their holidays abroad. Hence the 90 seconds of trite words and images, extolling cream teas in the Cotswolds and Wordsworth's Lake District, that are about to irritate the hell out of you. "Why go all the way to Bondi when you could come here to Bridlington?" says a wetsuited Rupert Grint, reminding us of what a fine actor he is. Well how much time do you have, Grinty? This "staycation" campaign is backed up by a trite discounting gimmick - "20.12 per cent" will be knocked off prices of a range of participating hotels, attractions and other services. And here's the serious point: no amount of celebrity endorsement can change the fact that holidays at home are horrendously expensive and promise to be even more punitively priced this year. Earnings are going down, petrol prices up and train travel is comfortably the dearest in Europe. Despite reassuring noises, the Olympics are set to result in cynical price-hikes for hotels and other services in the capital. And then, Rupert, there is the weather. Apart from all this, the new ad seems crassly misconceived. Nothing is more guaranteed to get the goat of the cussed Brit than the idea of the government spending our money on the modern equivalent of a public information film that tells us where to go, what to do and how to spend our increasingly hard-earned cash. Julie Walters in the Lake District But I'm grateful to Julie Walters for sorting my summer holiday plans. Standing in a chilly-looking Lake District she points out, quite reasonably, that "Wordsworth didn't wander into the nearest taverna." And that set me thinking. Which is the one place where compulsory fun and smug patriotism are definitely off the menu this year? I'm heading for Greece.