ONE of New York's finest journalists and travel writers zoomed into old York this week and was "blown away" by all that the city had to offer.

Now Professor Barry Goldsmith, who is massively influential in US travel thinking, plans to return with a camera crew to show his fellow New Yorkers why he was amazed.

He was especially excited at the possibility that Leeds Bradford International Airport might establish a direct New York to Yorkshire flight link

Prof Goldsmith, who writes for the New York Times, the New York Daily News, the Dallas Morning News, and Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, also broadcasts for BBC USA and US channel PBS. He also has his own TV show, called Location Vacation.

He plans to devote one episode of his show to York, including the Minster and the nearby stately home, Castle Howard.

He toured York on Monday at the invitation of Jenny Coupland, the public relations executive of York Tourism Bureau, who had met him at an industry networking event at the New York Hilton in October. His itinerary took him first to the Minster, then shopping areas burgeoning with Christmas festivity such as Stonegate, Petergate and The Shambles.

He also visited Fairfax House and the Assembly Rooms before having a private tour of Castle Howard.

Miss Coupland said: "Prof Goldsmith was blown away by York and fully supported the tourism bureau's plea for people to register their support for the suggested new flight route.

"He was convinced that it would be good not only for York and North Yorkshire, but also for travellers and business people from New York.

"He said that the tendency was for New York businessmen to fly directly to Heathrow, where they were daunted by the prospect of travelling miles to the north and its ancient capital, but if there was a direct route they would be able to refocus their attention - and that would be to everyone's benefit."

Sally Ramsey, marketing and business development manager for Leeds Bradford Airport, believes that by registering the interest of York people in a direct route to and from New York, they can play a big part in negotiations now taking place with an airline.

To register your views ad help the airport assess the real demand for this service visit our Business Channel.

Updated: 09:54 Wednesday, December 01, 2004