THE people of York will soon have the chance to see first hand just what it is that attracts four million tourists a year to their city.

York is one of Britain's best-loved destinations. Tourism brings almost £300 million a year to the ancient city and helps to create more than 9,000 jobs.

And every year the city's tourism businesses like to say 'thank you' to local people for welcoming the visiting hordes.

York Residents First Weekend - January 29 and 30 - is your opportunity to see why they come and what they do when they get here.

With the support of sponsor CPP and First Stop York, the city's tourism partnership, 50 of the city's museums, tours and attractions will open their doors free of charge to local people to sample the tourist experience.

There will be concerts, comedy, special deals in York's best restaurants and the chance to be pampered in three of York's top hotels.

With so many venues taking part, the Residents First Weekend is hailed as one of the biggest and best events of its kind in the UK.

You can also join in celebrating the huge variety of festivals that take place in York throughout the year. York@Large, the new cultural partnership for the city, will launch York City of Festivals at the Residents First Weekend.

Free festival taster sessions will be taking place over the course of the weekend throughout the city centre. Festivals taking part include the Festival of Food and Drink, Chinese New Year Festival, Jorvik Viking Festival, York Roman Festival, and many more.

This year the Evening Press is taking part in the event by throwing open its doors to the public. We are offering four free guided tours of our Walmgate publishing centre on the Saturday morning of Residents First weekend (see details below).

Further information on the Residents First Weekend will be available from the Information Point in Parliament Street on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 28 to 30. There will also be information on jobs and careers in tourism.

Drop into the information point and give your views on tourism in York and you could win £250 worth of Superbreak leisure break vouchers.

To take part in the weekend you will need a valid York Card to gain admission at each participating venue. A valid York Card is required for each resident over the age of five.

If you live in York you are entitled to a York Card. With a York Card you can get discounts on entry to a selection of leisure facilities in York, including museums and swimming pools. To get a York Card and extra cards for children or household members simply take two lots of proof of your residence (one must show your address) to any City of York Library.

All admissions and other offers during the Residents First event are subject to availability and are at the discretion of the participating attraction or venue. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Click here for full details of the weekend>>

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, January 18, 2005