TIME is playing its tricks again. We’re almost through July and, as 2009 speeds by, it becomes easier to forget the triumph that was Liverpool’s big year in the spotlight.

It’s clear that the city remains a “must-see destination” for large numbers of people, proving that Capital of Culture status was a real success.

Cast your minds back to the end of 2008.

Pick up a newspaper or tune in to a local radio broadcast and you would struggle not to see or hear the word “legacy”.

Yet, it all came good in the end.

And there are signs around and about now that we really have secured a lasting legacy.

Liverpool’s appeal post-08 is far more widespread and diverse than it ever was – even allowing for The Fab Four and our football heritage.

Whatever else 2008 did, it changed people’s perceptions and that’s still driving more and more people to visit.

As the great 08 jamboree entered its final quarter, the first cracks were starting to appear in our banking system.

Banks started to implode around about the time our giant spider was bending its legs on Lime Street. Other banking disasters followed (as did other spectaculars for Liverpool) and I mention them only to remind us that our plunge into recession and economic gloom came at the right end of that momentous year for Liverpool.

The worst of our economic woes coincided earlier this year with what’s traditionally been a busy time for travel agents parting us from our money, as well as these shores.

This year, though, that’s not been quite the norm as exchange rates, fuel surcharges and a reduced volume of available package holidays have come together to generate greater than usual interest in domestic holidays for Brits.

And for those overseas travellers still prepared to leave home, Destination UK has become more attractive.

In these peak weeks ahead, that could bring a welcome boost and bonus to what’s now referred to as our visitor economy.

Wish you were here?