Ilkley has benefited from an influx of tourists in the wake of Bradford's vain bid to win the European Capital of Culture title.

Forecasts that just by making a bid would have spin-off benefits for the district, thanks to the profile being raised, seem to have been proved right.

Yesterday, Liverpool was announced as the winner of the prestigious award for 2008.

Bradford Council Leader Margaret Eaton said: "I would like to wish Liverpool every success. They must feel enormously proud as it's been a very tough competition."

But while Bradford did not make the final shortlist of six cities, the number of inquiries and visitors has shot up.

Figures revealed this week by the Tourist Information Office show that in 2002, there was a rise of 20,000 tourists making inquiries either by telephone, e-mail or by visiting one of the Information Centres in Bradford, Ilkley, Skipton or the surrounding district. This equated to a seven per cent rise in tourists over the whole area during the year.

Singer Gareth Gates and television's Richard Whiteley, of Burley Woodhead, were among the personalities supporting Bradford's bid and last year Coun Eaton said: "Real changes are already taking place as a result of the bidding process. The number of tourists to the district as a whole is increasing again after last year's double blows of foot and mouth and the riots."

Capital of Culture Campaign Director Paul Brookes had also stated before the bid that entering would most likely increase Ilkley's tourist figures by 15 per cent.

He said: "Ilkley, in terms of the surrounding lands, is a gateway to the Dales and Lakes. People visit to see the shops and it has some great restaurants from Betty's Tea Room to the Box Tree."

He went on to say: "Ilkley is a very cultural place with the Literature Festival, the Playhouse and the Cow and Calf Rocks. People want something different and Ilkley can give them this."

Now their optimism has been reflected in the tourism figures.

Ilkley councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's environment chief, said: "There has certainly been an increase of people visiting rural sites and I would say that this is mainly due to rural renaissance."

Oscar winning Hollywood film producer Lord Puttnam, who super-headed the bid, also praised Ilkley's tourist attractions.

He said: "With its wonderful landscape of moors, dales, rivers and towns, Ilkley is highly regarded for its stylish architecture, quality shops, award winning tea-rooms and restaurants."

The district of Ilkley also received a major tourism boost with the announcement that Saltaire, the 19th Century Mill Village created by textile magnate Sir Titus Salt, was granted World Heritage Site Status.

The site now ranks in the eyes of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) alongside the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids.