DEFLATION on Good Friday, celebration on Easter Monday.

Last week's disappointing telephone hotel bookings worried tourist bosses. Three days later they are smiling again. York is buzzing. Hotels are full. Shops and cafs have been packed, trade is brisk.

Happily, this time York's good fortune was not at the expense of the coast.

Scarborough, Filey and the other resorts were packed as the mild and dry weather sent families flocking to the beaches.

This is particularly heartening as the Easter weekend is traditionally viewed as the springboard into the tourist season.

It is just the start we needed. Our leisure sector has taken a battering in recent years. Terrorism, floods and foot and mouth disease have combined to dent visitor numbers and the county's confidence.

Last year's hot and sunny summer began the fight back, which needs to be sustained if the losses of those lean years are to be made good.

No doubt York councillors will be relieved that the increased car parking charges did not put off visitors. But this was the first time many of them had been faced with the increased cost; the real test is whether it puts them off returning.

Meanwhile, there are lessons which can be learned from this bumper weekend. Council transport chiefs will wish to examine whether the Park & Ride sites were able to cope efficiently with the surge in demand.

And they should also study whether city centre car parks were full, which would place in doubt the feasibility of cutting more spaces.

Finally, city leaders must consider whether York needs more hotels and guest houses to cope with peak visitor demand. We cannot afford to turn away business.

Updated: 09:38 Monday, April 12, 2004