Cash-strapped Brighton and Hove City Council is offering up to £50,000 for its top tourism post.

The council is advertising for a head of tourism at a salary of between £45,855 and £50,349.

The council is seeking a candidate with experience in business tourism, destination marketing and visitor information services.

The job will include managing the visitor and convention bureau and achieving a high profile within the industry.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Elgood, who is on the council's policy and resources committee, said: "This has come at a time when the council is making not just £6 million worth of cuts but also a reduction of staff positions and this may not go down well among the lower levels of staff."

Tory leader Brian Oxley, said: "For that level of salary I hope the council will appoint someone who can really encourage people to visit Brighton and Hove.

"We would expect someone to be professional and have a proven track record."

In comparison, North Cornwall District Council, which covers the seaside resort of Newquay, pays a salary of between £20,562 and £21,921 to its equivalent tourism officer.

Brighton and Hove City Council said the salary level being offered for the new candidate was the same as the one currently being paid.

Chief executive David Panter said: "This is a key post in term of jobs and our local economy.

"The tourism and conference market is very competitive and we need to attract the best if we are to retain Brighton's position as the country's premier destination.

"I am delighted to say we are already getting serious interest from people nationally known in the tourism trade."

However, Roger Marlowe chairman of the Brighton and Hove Hoteliers' Association believes the salary is not enough when compared to salaries advertised for professions such as IT and accountancy.

He said: "It is absolutely essential that we pay to get somebody.

"We rely on the fact people want to come to Brighton as opposed to other localities. It is not a high salary. We see much higher salaries being paid in other fields. This is a job which keeps thousands and thousands of people employed in Brighton."