World Cup hero David Beckham is doing as much as the Bronte sisters to jack up the district's tourist figures by bringing in thousands of Japanese visitors.

The World Cup star provoked Beckham Mania during his stay in Japan in the summer.

According to the British Tourist Authority, Beckham-struck Japanese football fans have been flocking into the country ever since. And the effects are being felt in Bradford tourist spots, which were badly hit by the foot and mouth crisis last year and the lack of US visitors in the wake of September 11.

About 8,000 Japanese enjoyed Bradford's charms and spent about £2 million here in 2001. Figures are not yet available for this year, but the signs look good.

The Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth has enjoyed a swell in Japanese visitors wanting to immerse themselves in the stories of the three sisters.

A spokesman said: "We always have masses of Japanese tourists, they are now our main overseas tourists. We have hundreds enjoying the museum every day. They are our best customers and love the museum. The predicted increase in Japanese tourists can only be good news for us."

The Brontes are part of the Japanese curriculum, so the village now boasts Japanese signs, a Japanese language guidebook and a Japanese-speaking guide who works at weekends in the tourist centre.

A Bradford Council tourism spokesman said: "Over recent years, there has been an increase in the number of Japanese tourists. As well as Haworth, Saltaire, which has gained World Heritage Status, is also popular with Japanese visitors. We are currently looking to work with a number of partners around the area to increase visitor numbers generally, and part of that work is expected to involve targeting overseas tourists."

Anne Heald, who owns the Saltaire Tourist Information Office and Gift Shop, was serving two Japanese tourists as she spoke to the Telegraph & Argus.

She said: "We have always had visitors from Japan who come over here after visiting Haworth. They are always very interested in Saltaire when they come. We have noticed a decrease in American groups but we have had quite a few inquiries for next year from overseas, so things look even better for 2003."

At the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, the number of tourist groups in general has increased this year.

Councillor Anne Hawksworth, executive member for the environment, said: "It is very pleasing that numbers have increased and the Japanese absolutely adore Haworth. If they come to the country, they are attracted here, which is great news for the district. Beckham is a lovely man!"

A British Tourist Authority spokesman said: "Beckham fever continues to reign supreme."

"Economic conditions and terrorism fears resulted in a lower-than-expected demand for international travel in the second half of 2002. The signs are good for continued growth and recovery as we enter 2003, but there is still a lot of work to be done, particularly on Britain's long-haul markets."

But, despite Americans' reluctance to leave their country, the authority is predicting a four per cent increase in overseas visitors next year.