YORK Tourism Bureau says the city is "holding its own" on the tourism front following national statistics which show visitor numbers are dropping because of the strong pound.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the strong pound is still hitting overseas tourism to Britain

A dip in the number of Western Europeans visiting the UK meant the total of foreign visitors to Britain in June 2000 was 2.19 million - a fall of six per cent compared with June 1999.

Steve Jaques, museum director at Eden Camp, near Malton, agreed the strong pound was affecting tourism in North Yorkshire.

"Most of the visitors to Eden Camp are local so we are not being badly affected," he said.

"The strong pound is a double-edged sword. Not only are foreign visitors finding it expensive to come to England, but domestic visitors are fleeing abroad on cheap holidays".