by Sam Greenhill at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

The single currency could give York a double boost, according to senior figures in the European Union. In a debate in the European Parliament today, members heard that the Ecu would save the continents' holidaymakers money off their trips abroad - making them more likely to travel.

Among the places that could see more visits are traditional tourist and holiday centres such as York and North Yorkshire.

And when thousands of politicians, Government officials, journalists, lobbyists and others descend on York in ten days time for ECOFIN, the gathering of European ministers, the city's catering and tourist industry is expecting a second big boom.

Sir Leon Brittan, one of the UK's European Commissioners and former MP for Richmond, told the Evening Press: "I myself believe it is in Britain's interest to join a single European currency and the sooner the better.

"But whatever happens, the Ecofin conference will give people in North Yorkshire a chance to see at close hand what Europe is about and how it works." Sitting in the grand semi-circular chamber of the European Parliament, members heard how a single currency would save holidaymakers money off their trips abroad, making them more likely to want to make those trips.

With only one currency, visitors would not need to change money when they went to another EU country. They would avoid paying commissions and risking poor exchange rates, thus boosting tourism and the holiday industry.

The Parliament also heard how hotels and restaurants in most other EU countries would soon be encouraged to tear up their rate cards and menus and rewrite them with prices in euros. And to combat Europe's decreased share of the world tourism market, the Europeans today heard plans for a major promotional campaign to attract visitors to the continent - by using the euro as a selling point.

There was a calm, general consensus on the way forward, perhaps because most EU countries are counting the few days left until their currencies become as one.

Eleven countries will join forces to launch the Ecu, the European common currency. Britain will not be one of them, having opted to stay out for the time being.

See the Evening Press Ecofin site for more information

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