A new survey paints a mixed picture for York tourism, with visitor numbers up, but spending down. Reporter Dan Jones looks at the results - and asks major players how the city can attract even more people.

TYPICALLY bad British weather, tough competition from budget airlines, a strong pound and a sharp slowdown in high street spending....

Tourism chiefs have plenty of reasons to reel off when pressed about why the city's latest tourist survey does not make 100 per cent positive reading.

Visitor spending was down £1.1 million to £283.6 million, with a slump in food and drink and on visiting attractions blamed for the downturn.

However, officials say they have "taken heart" from plus points.

They point to visitor numbers rising 75,000 to 3.95 million and ever growing numbers of Far East tourists flocking to sample York's historic charms.

Also on the positive side, hotel bed bookings in 2004 were the best since 1999 - about three per cent higher than the previous year.

But, worryingly, from February to June 2005, occupancy rates were down an average of seven per cent.

Tourism bosses are well aware the results - providing a snapshot of the city's crucial tourist industry up to this June - do not take into account the impact of London's terror attacks on what was already a jittery overseas market.

Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas said she would be keeping a watchful eye on the impact of the bombings, in case it damages a vital cog in the York economy.

She said any affect was hard to gauge at this early stage, but added: "We would expect there to be some impact."

But she said the bureau hoped the much talked about "Ascot factor" - on the back of the success of the Royal race meeting in York - will give the city's tourist trade a massive shot in the arm during the second half of 2005.

Mrs Cruddas said: "While 2004 was a relatively good year, the beginning of this year has shown a slight downturn."

She was "confident" positive Ascot publicity would bolster tourism in future months, as well as high profile events including Guy Fawkes 400 and the York City Of Festivals.

During a "challenging year", she said she "took heart" York was holding its own in a competitive market.

Now tourism bosses are busy planning an autumn campaign to encourage visitors to stay longer - and spend more.

Major players in the city today gave their verdicts on the way forward for tourism.National Railway Museum chief Andrew Scott said the survey results were promising, but called for a drive to get more new visitors.

He said it was good that the poll of 1,000 visitors showed that more than 1.3 million tourists planned to visit other parts of Yorkshire during their York stay, maintaining the city's "gateway" reputation.

Mr Scott, chair of the tourism bureau, said ways to attract more first time visitors should be closely examined, with development agency Yorkshire Forward playing a major role.

Councillor Andrew Waller, deputy leader of City of York Council, welcomed burgeoning Far East links, meaning less reliance on the volatile US market.

But he said the web should be used more to attract younger tourists, especially those drawn to Easyjet-style cheap flights abroad.

Debbie Waite, of York Hospitality Association, neatly summed up the task facing tourism bosses. "People only have so much disposable income and there are now many more considerations to be made before spending that," she said.

"We have a lot to offer in York, but we're competing with a whole world of holiday destinations."

Other survey results included:

Overseas visits made up nearly a quarter of all York tourists, compared with about 20 per cent between 2002-4

Of overseas visits, ones from Far Eastern visitors now make up a fifth - compared with just 1.5 per cent in 20002/03

Average stay rose slightly, from 2.99 to 3.05 days

Nearly 80 per cent of visitors had been at least once before

Number of tourist-related jobs dipped by 229 to 8,861

Tourists gave the city the thumbs up for history, attractions, shops and interesting buildings

Moans included parking, traffic and queues, although two-thirds of those quizzed had no gripes at all

The main reason given for visiting York was leisure (89 per cent) with shopping a distant second (eight per cent), then business, and visiting friends and relatives. Only eight per cent cited shopping as a key reason for visiting, but at least half had done some shopping when quizzed.

Updated: 10:16 Monday, August 15, 2005