VISITORS and residents can learn how to get the most out of tourist attractions and opportunities for days out in the Bradford district with new Visitor and Discover Guides, produced by Bradford Council’s tourism service, Visit Bradford.

45,000 guides are being distributed throughout the UK in order to attract visitors to Bradford and district in 2019.

The 36-page Visitor Guide showcases what’s on offer in the region.

Individual Discover Guides are also available for Bradford City Centre, Haworth and Brontë Country, Ilkley and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire.

Each one details the fabulous attractions, events, food and drink, heritage and culture the area has to offer.

Patricia Tillotson, Visitor and Business Development Manager at Bradford Council, said: “Our district is a fascinating place to visit and explore.

"We have seen year on year increases in the number of day trips and visits from overseas tourist which have boosted tourism in the district and led to a tourism industry worth an estimated £681 million to the district’s economy.

"We were also named ‘Emerging Destination of the Year 2018’ for Europe by the tourist bible The Luxury Travel Guide last year.

“There are loads of great events coming up this year right across the district, including the Yorkshire Games Festival at the National Science and Media Museum, the delightful Peter Rabbit exhibition at Cartwright Hall in May and the return of the Tour de Yorkshire.

"In September the Women’s Elite Road Race of the Yorkshire 2019 UCI Road World Championships will start in the city centre and the Men’s Elite Road Race will travel through the district.

“Our district is a great place for our residents, as well as regional, national and international visitors to spend their time and these new guides will help people to make the most of their visit.”

The guides were showcased at the National Science and Media Museum yesterday, and at the event, Diana Greenwood, Senior Tourism Development Officer at Visit Bradford, said: "I wouldn't say people underestimate Bradford, there's lots of amazing attractions in the district.

"We just need to get the message out further to people. Once people see what's on offer, they often come back and have a good time."

Asked about the importance of areas such as Haworth and Saltaire to the district, Ms Greenwood said: "We try and promote everything that people can do in all of Bradford.

"Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley are all a big draw for the district.

Explaining why the National Science and Media Museum had been chosen to showcase the guides, Ms Greenwood said: "It's a really big attraction for Bradford.

"We also thought it would be nice to launch the visitor guides at the same time as the games festival here, which is an event which will attract a lot of people to the city.

"It's a central point of Bradford too, which is why we chose it."

Saltaire World Heritage Officer, Sheena Campbell, said: "We are lucky that we've got two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bradford, Saltaire and the Unesco City of Film.

She added: "I'm really privileged to be Saltaire's World Heritage Officer. I'd like to promote it and encourage more visitors to come.

"We've got fantastic architecture, art, accessibility to beautiful countryside and of course the Shipley Glen Tramway."

Discussing Saltaire's future, Ms Campbell said: "We are planning to promote more sustainable transport, with more tourism and events.

"We've got World Heritage Day on Easter Saturday. There's going to be a lantern parade in Roberts Park, the Saltaire festival in September and arts festivals in May and June.

"There's lots of events to attract people."

The Visitor and Discover Guides are also available online at www.visitbradford.com/visitor-information