As visitor numbers slump nationally, tourism hot-spots in the Bradford area appear to be bucking the trend.

Latest figures issued by the Office for National Statistics have revealed a fall of ten per cent over the last 12 months in people visiting the UK from abroad.

But in the Bradford area tourism is marginally higher than it was in the same period last year.

Jane Glaister, Bradford Council’s strategic director for culture, tourism and sport, said: “Our visitor figures from 2008 to 2009 showed a six per cent increase across the district’s Visitor Information Centres. So far this year, we have seen a slight increase since the same period last year, up from 91,950 in 2009 to 92,878 in 2010.”

Enjoying one of its best years for visitors is East Riddlesden Hall, near Keighley, where numbers at the 17th Century National Trust property so far this year stand at 15,000 – 3,000 more than at the same time last year. It is in line to exceed its average 30,000 visitors a year.

And the second most popular literary shrine in the UK – the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth – has seen a small increase in visitors and in its income.

The museum – a popular destination for Japanese tourists – sees about 75,000 people through its doors in a year. Museum director Andrew McCarthy believed visitor numbers were up by one-and-a-half per cent. He said: “It’s always difficult to be clear at this time but financially we are about two per cent up on last year. It’s not dramatic but we are pleased. I’d rather see a steady increase than anything large which might not truly reflect how things are going.”

It is a similar picture at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where passenger numbers along the five-mile line between Keighley and Oxenhope are up.

“This has been a special year for us – the 40th anniversary since the filming of The Railway Children which has helped enormously,” said heritage railway spokesman Jim Shipley. The line usually attracted about 110,000 people a year and Mr Shipley expected that figure to be beaten if the season continued as it was doing.

The National Media Museum is also showing a three per cent rise. It had expected about 50,000 visitors in April but attracted 51,000.