It's likely to be another big year for York on the tourism front, as STEVE CARROLL finds out.

ON the face of it, York would seem to be a city which has tourism sewn up.

With a medieval centre and world-famous attractions such as York Minster, Jorvik and the Yorkshire Museum, the city is the envy of Britain - even perhaps Europe.

But at York Tourism Bureau, there is non-stop planning to try and increase the four million visitors who annually take the trip to our northern city.

With a year-round events programme, city lighting and new exhibitions and attractions, it promises to be an exciting 12 months for everyone at the bureau.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, believes it will be a year of highlights, but that doesn't mean York residents can't join in the fun.

She said: "York has an extremely popular appeal, with its 2,000 years of

history and world-class visitor attractions. However, we cannot afford to be complacent as we constantly need to keep one step ahead of our competitors.

"With increased choice, low cost flights to Europe and the demands on leisure time, we have to be in a position to offer something new and offer new reasons to visit York.

"It isn't necessarily about increasing visitor numbers - we get four million visitors per year - but more about positioning York as the number one choice for a UK short break, encouraging visitors to stay longer and also to come at quieter times of the year. The Festival City York brand has done much to help achieve this."

So what's in store for the four seasons of 2006? Aside from the many and varied events at the main visitor attractions, there's a host of special events being planned to get the visitors flocking to York.

The National Railway Museum is sure to have the crowds queuing up at the Leeman Road attraction when Flying Scotsman Story opens at Easter.

With the iconic locomotive off the tracks this year while it undergoes a refit, visitors will be able to get up-to-date with the history of the NRM's prized asset, while watching workers give the Scotsman its much-needed tune-up.

Locomotives are not the only historical assets to be on show this year, at the York Archaeological Trust's new visitor attraction, Dig!, visitors will be able to excavate parts of a Roman fortress, viking city, medieval burial site or Victorian workers cottages.

The next quadrennial performance of the Mystery Plays will dazzle visitors when the Guilds of York take on the historical stories in July, while the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Constantine as Roman emperor in York will be celebrated by York Museums Trust with a major exhibition, running from March to October.

It is a strong programme of attractions, aimed at bringing visitors back to the city on repeat trips.

Mrs Cruddas said: "Attractions, events, exhibitions and festivals are a good incentive to bring in not just new visitors, but also repeat visits. 78 per cent of York's visitors do come back again, and this is because we are so successful at offering something new.

"This year we have a strong programme of events and exhibitions. Highlights, such as the Constantine the Great exhibition, Dig!, the new visitor attraction and the new permanent Flying Scotsman Story at the National Railway Museum, are sure to be hugely popular, not just for visitors but for residents too.

"The investment in tourism is beneficial to both visitors and residents, making York a vibrant, lively place to live and work, and supporting over 10,000 jobs. Visitor numbers impact on shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and many other kinds of businesses."

It's a list that is not withstanding the Minster's campaign to raise £30 million for the restoration of its East Front, and a new interpretation of the city walls - one of York's great assets.

If this seems a lot, it's meant to. Mrs Cruddas said: "We can't afford to sit still, because people need new reasons to visit. It is the job of the Tourism Bureau to ensure York develops its tourism industry, offering an exciting and imaginative programme of exhibitions and events, while at the same time protecting its rich cultural heritage.

"As a city, we have more to boast about this year than ever before. York is leading the way in showing other cities how to be responsive and innovative in attracting new visitors to stay longer."

Updated: 11:14 Monday, January 23, 2006