Tourists still beating path to Pool

TOURISTS are still coming to Liverpool in their droves, and bucking the national trend, according to new figures.

The figures for 2010, show 5pc growth in spending by visitors and tourism supported jobs and an increase of 8pc in staying visitors and 4pc in day visitors compared to 2009.

The data is from independent research commissioned by Merseyside's tourist board, The Mersey Partnership, and shows that in 2010 an estimated 54.5m visitor trips were made to Liverpool City Region. This total comprised 4.4m staying visitors and 50.1m day visitors.

By comparison, UK performance figures published by national tourism body VisitBritain estimate that in 2010 domestic  overnight tourism fell by 5%  and overseas staying visits  dropped by 0.3pc.

The figures have been independently verified and prepared using a nationally adopted model and methodology, they say.

Michael Eakin, Acting Chair of Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy Committee and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chief Executive said:”Today’s figures once again show the value of the Visitor Economy to the city region and the contribution this sector continues to make towards our overall economic performance. The findings also give us a very clear steer that we are on course to realise the potential identified in our current three year Action Plan.”