Dame Judi Dench is helping York battle for tourists in 2002 after the New York terrorist atrocity hit visitor numbers this autumn.

A council report has revealed that the events of September 11 had an immediate impact on the city's vital tourism sector, which provides employment for an estimated 9,000 people.

York's overseas trade fell by as much as 20 per cent, and room occupancy figures were down 12 per cent on 1999, said Tony Bennett, assistant director economic development with City of York Council.

"A number of hotels have reported cancellations by both business and leisure customers."

He said York had enjoyed increased domestic business as UK residents opted to stay at home rather than travel overseas, but many of the extra visitors were believed to be day-trippers who spent less.

But the First Stop York Tourism Partnership has been doing its utmost this week to increase visitor numbers next year and even in 2003.

Staff from the tourism bureau have been proclaiming the city's virtues to 30,000 trade operators and buyers from across the world at the World Travel Market at Earls Court in London.

Hot off the press in time for the market was the new York Visitor Guide, which includes a personal recommendation to visit the city by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench.

Seventy thousand copies of the guide, which promotes the city as "lively, vibrant and historic", will be distributed by the British Tourist Authority overseas, and another 300,000 will be distributed at Tourist Information Centres across the UK.

Spokeswoman Gillian Cruddas said that while, as anticipated, there were fewer overseas buyers at the World Trade Market, there was increased interest from domestic buyers and operators which might partially compensate for lost international trade.

The bureau promoted group discounts, special offers and incentives, but she said that, while York wanted to be offering value for money, it was not looking to follow London's recent lead in offering heavily discounted prices for accommodation following a massive slump in tourism in the capital.

Mr Bennett said discussions were taking place with the Yorkshire Tourist Board and Yorkshire Forward to ensure York played a full role in, and received support from, regional activity.

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, November 17, 2001