THE number of overseas visitors heading to York continues to plummet, according to worrying new figures out today.

The percentage of foreign guests spending dollars and yen in the city has nearly halved since 1995.

Tourist chiefs believe short-term factors normally blamed for such slumps - foot and mouth, war and September 11 - are not directly responsible for these "disappointing" results.

They reckon the problems are deep-rooted and started with poor exchange rates in the mid-1990s.

In 1995/6, 34 per cent of York's visitors came from abroad. Now, in 2002/3, the figure stands at just 18 per cent, according to a visitor survey.

Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas said: "The figures are disappointing, but are in line with national trends. We are no different to other UK heritage cities.

"Things started with an unfavourable exchange rate, then foot and mouth, floods, September 11, wars and SARS.

"Collectively, we've not really had a chance to recover. It's been one thing after another."

She said: "The overseas market, particularly America, is very important. Overseas visitors are the core market for many shops here.

"But there's not a lot we can do until they jump on planes and get over here."

Mrs Cruddas said city tourism bosses were using excellent overseas contacts in an attempt to bolster visitor numbers.

In a further blow for York tourism, new figures reveal little change in hotel occupancy figures - despite a blazing hot summer.

June and July hotel and attraction totals were down on last year, with August unchanged only thanks to bumper Ebor race crowds.

However, Mrs Cruddas said statistics should not be taken at face value. Warmer weather may have hit numbers at museums as crowds soaked up the sun, she said.

"For the last decade York has had about four million visitors and our objective has not been to increase that, but to spread it throughout the year.

"Certain summer periods are very busy, so we are concentrating on filling winter gaps. An average visitor now stays three nights in York."

Meanwhile, more positive news shows city conference bookings have raked in £200,000 since April.

Delegate bookings have netted £80,000 so far, while total confirmations are up nearly 40 per cent on last year.

Mrs Cruddas, stressing this was only a snapshot of conference bookings, said: "We're delighted with the results so far. York is becoming increasingly known as a conference and leisure destination."

Updated: 11:26 Wednesday, October 22, 2003