Yesterday, we carried the bad news. A possible tax on of all ridiculous things beds. Or at least, on visitors who have the gall to sleep in beds in York hotels and B&Bs.

Such a tax, if implemented, could have a disastrous effect on city tourism, we said.

Today, the good news. Visitors to York have given their verdict on the city, and it is a pretty good one.

York's traditional attractions such as its history and its ancient buildings remain a big draw. But increasingly it is the city's great food and fantastic beer that are bringing the visitors flocking in.

For a city that prides itself on not standing still, that is good news indeed.

Sir Ron Cooke, a great advocate for York, pointed out earlier this week that one of the things which makes the city so special is its sheer diversity.

Even its history, he said, was varied. York isn't a Georgian city, like Bath; or a Victorian city, like Leeds: it is a city of all ages, from Roman onwards.

But it is a city of the future, too. Sir Ron noted the "growing galaxy" of cultural festivals and the thriving mix of internet cafs, boutique hotels, pubs, style bars and quirky shops which make York such a great place to be.

Now we have official confirmation that visitors too have noticed the way York is changing and that they like what they see.

Visitor numbers have remained at about four million a year. But the city's food and its pubs and bars are increasingly being given as a reason for coming, according to the latest Visitor Survey.

While idiots in central government are thinking up ever more bizarre and sneaky ways of taxing tourism, York needs to fight back with everything it has got.

It is good to see the city is doing exactly that.