AMERICAN tourists have started to come back to York.

The number of United States visitors to the city dropped dramatically after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

They traditionally make up 50 per cent of the total number of visitors to York.

But Kay Hyde, of York Tourism Bureau, said the "general feeling" was that Uncle Sam is on his way back.

She said: "The evidence is only anecdotal at the moment, as it is too early to back it up with any statistics.

"We have spoken to people in the city, to tourist information centres, to hoteliers, and the general feeling is that Americans are starting to come back."

David Brooks, general manager at the Best Western Dean Court Hotel, in Duncombe Place, York, said Americans were always very keen to come to the city.

"They always appreciate the city and the area, and are coming here in numbers. We are taking dozens of guests each week from Canada and America.

"There was never a big problem here. We lost a few bookings in the immediate aftermath of September 11, but the real fear was for this year, what the long-term effects would be.

"Thankfully it appears the majority of American visitors are still choosing to travel, and travel to York," said Mr Brooks.

Keith Wood, co-proprietor of Ascot House, in East Parade, said: "We had a party of Americans in last week. It definitely seems like they are travelling again.

"We are getting inquiries where before there were none. Movement is definitely in the right direction."

Deb Cody, of Prattsburgh, New York, was in York with her partner, son and two friends. She said: "I was happy to travel and am really glad we did. We have seen some wonderful places and the Minster is really impressive."

Anne Myers, of Chicago, said she was determined that the terrorist atrocities wouldn't stop her travelling.

Ms Myers said she felt she was returning to her roots, as her family left York for America in the 1830s.

She said: "I am a businesswoman and I travel a lot. I was determined to get on a plane right away after the attacks.

"I feel very strongly that what happened on September 11 is not the way to sort out international disputes, so I really wanted to continue with my life as well as I could."

Ms Myers said she was staying in York until Friday and had been impressed with what she has seen so far. "It is a truly beautiful city," she said.

- In February Kay Hyde went on a stateside mission to meet with U.S. travel reporters. She said a full-page feature on York was due to appear in the St Petersburg Times. "Hopefully more will come through," she said.

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, April 17, 2002