TRIBUTES have been paid to Somerset tourism expert Bob Smart after he lost his battle with leukaemia.

Bob, 68, from Weston-super-Mare, was chairman of Visit Somerset, the county’s official destination management organisation.

He spent most of his life in Somerset and always said he would not willingly live in any other county or country.

Most of his adult life was in tourism, heritage and interpretation projects, helping visitors and residents to realise the wonders of Somerset, and to get the most out of their time here.

In the 1970s he helped to develop a recognition of the cultural and architectural heritage of Weston, working at the Woodspring Museum.

He was involved in many projects which led to the establishment of the Weston Heritage Centre, the Blakehay Arts Centre and Weston Town Quarry, as well as the restoration of the Grove Park Bandstand.

After working with the Clevedon Pier Trust in its vital re-opening year he was then in charge of marketing and site interpretation at Cheddar Caves and Gorge for 21 years.

This period saw Cheddar developed as a major archaeological, wildlife and heritage site, as well as being an outstanding tourist attraction.

Having become active in the Somerset Tourism Association, now Visit Somerset, during the 1990s, in 2011 he succeeded long-serving STA chairman Bob Nicholson as chairman of Visit Somerset.

As chairman for the last five years, Bob Smart helped to confirm Visit Somerset’s official status as a destination management organisation and oversaw a number of projects which have turned Somerset into an important international tourism destination.

The Somerset e-book, the first of its kind in the UK, launched this week is dedicated to Bob.

At Visit Somerset’s spring conference last week, Bob spoke to delegates via a moving recording about the county’s future as well as asking his friends in the industry not to grieve for him.

In recent reflections Bob said: ‘‘I’ve always realised, since I was a kid, that I’m privileged to live in a very special place.

"Most of the people who live here don’t realise just how lucky they are.

"If you like, I’ve made it my life’s work to show visitors and residents just how wonderful Somerset is, and I think the message is getting across.

"It’s a wonderful feeling to have a job where you help other people to have a good time. That’s what tourism is all about.

"We show people that their lives can be better, and we make them feel better about themselves.

"Tourism is a great force for good, and while we’re helping visitors we’re helping ourselves as well, through employment and the local economy.

"Most of my work is strategic these days, but I can never resist the urge to help a visitor get more out of his or her holiday.

"I can’t stay out of the front line, and neither can the folks I work with.

"It’s always worth going that extra mile, because in tourism there’s no distinction between work and leisure.

"The visitors are having a good time because of you, and you’re having a good time because of them.”

John Turner, Visit Somerset’s chief executive, said: “Bob died with family and friends by his side.

"Throughout his short illness his spirit has continued to shine through and only 10 days ago he answered his phone to the press asking for a comment on a story.

"Promoting Somerset was Bob’s passion and he lives on through the work of Visit Somerset and the e-book he helped to edit, which is also dedicated to him.”