BURY is sharing in the growth of tourism across Greater Manchester, according to new figures.

Tourism has grown by almost 40 per cent since 1999 and is now worth £2.23 billion to the region's economy.

The figures, for 2003, show that Bury recorded a rise in tourist numbers of five per cent, an increase in tourist days of four per cent, with revenue up by two per cent to nearly £88 million. Employment is also up by three per cent, with the equivalent of 1,765 full-time posts servicing the sector.

Mr Adrian Frost, Bury Council's partnership and investment manager, said that there had been a dip in the number of people staying over, but that was probably due to the Commonwealth Games being held in Manchester the previous year.

"The overall trend is still steadily upwards achieving the council's ambition for the borough to be a significant visitor destination," he said.

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for regeneration and housing, said: "The figures are good news for Bury's economy. The council has put a significant effort into developing the tourism sector, especially business tourism, and as well as benefiting from the spin-off of visitors to Manchester parts of the borough are developing as visitor destinations in their own right"