With Ecofin destined to put York on the global map, one local company is pulling out all the stops to make sure foreign visitors know how to get here.

With so many journalists and visitors from abroad travelling via Manchester Airport, train operator TransPennine Express has embarked on a major campaign to promote its round-the-clock service from York to the airport. TransPennine, one of the sponsors of the Ecofin conference, provides 4,000 seats a day between York and Manchester Airport - more than a million a year.

The City of York Council chief executive, David Clark, said: "One of the reasons why York is such a good place for the Ecofin conference is that it is at the hub of the transport network, with good access to most of the UK population and to Europe through links such as the rail service to Manchester Airport."

York Tourism Bureau's chief executive, Gillian Cruddas, said: "The fact that York beat off stiff competition to hold the Ecofin conference is being used as a promotional message to put York firmly on the tourism and conference map. It is thanks to partners like TransPennine Express that we are able to boost the £250 million tourism income which boosts the local economy every year.

"There is greater awareness of York as a short-break destination - resulting in a 25 per cent increase in enquiries for information on the city, but business visitors also represent a significant proportion of York's income."

David Judson, commercial manager of TransPennine Express, said: "We know many of the visitors will be using our services connecting York to Europe and the world through our rail link to Manchester Airport.

"The event gives us a wonderful opportunity to show everyone why York is an ideal centre for tourists and investors."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.