Ilkley needs extra help to revive its flagging tourist industry, according to a spokesman for the town's traders.

David Giddings, of the Ilkley Business Forum, said that the town had been hit hard by the foot and mouth disease outbreak and needed to get back on its feet.

To try to help tourism in Ilkley and the surrounding district, Bradford Council wants to develop a new strategy to attract visitors to the area.

Tourist bosses have sent out more than 400 letters to hoteliers, traders, tourist attraction organisers and bus and train companies across the district inviting them to take part in special tourist workshops.

One of them will take place at Westwood Lodge, Wells Road, Ilkley, between 11am and 3pm on Thursday, October 25.

David Andrew, chief executive of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, said: "The development of the tourism strategy is a vital step in ensuring the district has the right tourism product to maximise the benefits from the Capital of Culture bid.

"Consultation with the industry is essential as the strategy will be the blueprint for the future growth of tourism in the area."

Ilkley district councillor and Bradford's environment chief, Anne Hawkesworth, said: "We are pleased to be working in partnership with Yorkshire Tourist Board to ensure tourism can play its role in the Capital of Culture bid and in delivering Bradford's 2020 vision."

Mr Giddings said he welcomed the workshop which could develop new ideas to bring tourists back to Ilkley.

"We need help and assistance, not just from local people, but from outsiders and specialists in the area of tourism," said Mr Giddings.

He said that in the early stages of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, people were officially discouraged from visiting country areas. Despite later reassurances that the countryside 'was still open' people tended to stay away.

Mr Giddings said: "It is about giving people confidence to come to Ilkley. There has been a lack of visitors coming over the border from Lancashire and of people coming from the Leeds area.

"Although foot and mouth may be going out we are still suffering the effects of it," said Mr Giddings, who is the owner of the Opulent Designs shop on The Grove.

Mr Giddings praised the recent bandstand opening as a major tourist attraction and added that Ilkley needed more events like it to attract the crowds.

Councillor Hawkesworth has earlier stated that Bradford's bid for European Capital of Culture in 2008, would be helped by emphasising tourist magnets in the outlying areas of the district such as Haworth and Ilkley.

This strategy could see important changes in the way tourism is promoted in Ilkley.

Members of the public can send their ideas for tourism development to the council via the Bradford Conference Desk, 3rd Floor, Mercury House, Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 0QL or e-mail (conference.desk@bradford.gov.uk).