VISITORS to York will be able to enjoy even greater value for money with the relaunch today of the York Pass.

York Tourism Bureau has taken over the York Pass, which went on sale three years ago across the UK, Europe and United States, to offer the city's visitors considerable savings and convenience.

In an effort to make the pass even more of a "must-have" item, York Pass is going down in price from £21 for a one-day pass to only £17.

Marketing of York Pass will be stepped up in the UK, particularly in Scotland, the Midlands, London and the South East.

The pass provides free entry to more than £100-worth of attractions and comes with a 72-page trilingual guidebook with maps. Additional benefits include discounts in restaurants.

Purchasers will be able to buy the pass at the De Grey Rooms Tourist Information Centre or by logging on to www.yorkpass.com.

Craig Wilson, marketing manager for the York Tourism Bureau, said heavier promotion of York Pass domestically should give the city a strong competitive edge over other UK destinations.

He said: "The York Pass brings 30 attractions in a great-value, easy-to-use, easy-to-purchase pass for both the visitor and the travel trade.

"Britain's inbound tourism industry is worth around £13 billion per year and York plays an important part by attracting an annual overseas spend of over £50 million.

"It is crucial to develop new products and offer value for money to our overseas visitors and the York Pass has proven to be an important tool in bringing in new and additional overseas business for the city."

Don't miss Saturday's Evening Press, which will offer readers the chance to win four York Passes, allowing the winner and his or her family into 30 of York's visitor attractions over a whole weekend.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, April 01, 2004