We can all do our bit for tourism

Aug 31 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

FORGET the dreaming spires of Oxford and the mighty York Minster – Liverpool is the new lure for overseas visitors looking to soak up British culture.

Today, new government figures reveal the number of international tourists arriving in the city has trebled in just two years, bringing in £255m for the local economy.

During 2006, Liverpool welcomed 625,000 international visitors, up from 438,000 in 2005.

Only two years ago, in 2004, Liverpool lay in 16th place with 210,000 visitors, yet now we are ahead of those historic cities that traditionally enjoyed a lucrative tourist industry.

The figures are hugely encouraging for 2008.

Liverpool is currently the sixth most visited place in Britain, behind cities such as London – which will obviously always be Number One, as the country’s capital – and Birmingham.

The figures also show that Liverpool is now a more popular destination than traditional favourites including York and Bath, and university cities Oxford and Cambridge.

But Capital of Culture year should be a bonanza; as well as the events tabled to run throughout the 12 months, the city will reap rich rewards from the Tall Ships Race when it starts from the Mersey, and the Golf Open at Royal Birkdale.

It is a happy prospect . . . but we should never be blasé about ensuring visitors to our city have the best possible experience.

That means our hospitality industry staff must be the most helpful, our public transport the most friendly and efficient, and our city the cleanest and safest place possible.

We should also all fervently hope that those hundreds of overseas visitors who booked trips in anticipation of an amazing Mathew Street Festival for Liverpool’s 800th birthday year will still return next year.