TOURIST attractions in York say they are suffering, after a downturn in visitors of up to 15 per cent in the last year.

Smaller visitor centres are struggling, and one is launching an appeal to replace lost revenue.

Barley Hall, off Stonegate, which is run by a charitable trust, needs to raise £5,000 by the end of the year and is asking people for donations.

Museum manager Gill Page said: "It has been a hard year for York's tourism industry and this has hit small independent attractions like Barley Hall especially hard.

"We expect visitor numbers to be down by about 10 to 15 per cent by the end of the year, although we are hoping more people will come over Christmas.

"We don't receive any public funding, so this affects us a great deal. We are asking ordinary people to make a gift to us this Christmas, and if businesses can sponsor us, we will offer packages such as free tickets for their guests."

Tourism businesses are discussing the reasons for the downturn and ways of encouraging more people to come to York.

Some attractions are worried about international visitors staying away after the London bombings, but Ms Page said fewer British people were visiting heritage sites.

Mike Woodward, finance and business development director at the Castle Museum, said: "The Castle Museum tends to reflect the general trend in York, and we have been about ten per cent off target this year.

"People have been saying it may be due to increased competition for the tourism market. Perhaps what we should be doing is focusing on promoting York as a historic city, rather than other factors, such as the shopping."

Eileen Murphy, of the Richard III museum at Monkbar, said its visitor numbers had been falling generally year on year, from 59,000 in 1999, to 54,000 last year. The figures were also expected to be down in 2005.

At Clifford's Tower, visitor numbers were said to have "fluctuated" - but other businesses in the city have generally noticed a slowdown.

The medieval Barley Hall, which dates from 1361, is holding a number of events to attract visitors, including a St Nicholas Fayre of craft goods, from November 24 to 27, and candlelit Christmas evenings, on December 8, 9 and 16.

Anyone who wants to make a donation to Barley Hall can contact the centre or contribute online at www.barleyhall.org.uk.

Updated: 10:06 Friday, November 18, 2005