COUNCILLORS have been shown a promotional video aimed at attracting more visitors to the Cumberland Council area.

Members of the council's place overview and scrutiny committee met at the Civic Centre in Carlisle to discuss a tourism report.

They were shown the short film - described as a work in progress - which featured various shots of tourist destinations in the area, as well as events organised by the council, including the recent economic summit where Labour leader Ed Miliband was the keynote speaker.

Paul Walker, the council's destinations manager and author of the report, said that last year tourism contributed £1593million to the local economy with 17.93million visitors.

Members heard that Carlisle is one of 13 historic cities along with premiere heritage locations including Bath, Canterbury, Cambridge, Chester, Durham, Greenwich, Lancaster, Lincoln, Oxford, Salisbury, Stratford and York.

Councillor Chris Wills (Upperby, Lib Dems) said an obvious source of tourists was those who visited the neighbouring Lake District and he wondered whether it was worth setting up a company which could promote the region? But Mr Walker said that was the role of Cumbria Tourism.

Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) asked that they were given an update in 12 months’ time.

Councillor Michael Eldon (Cleator Moor West, Labour) noted that they were targeting visitors from the United States of America and asked: "Are we working with the big football club down the road?"

He said Carlisle United FC was a big selling point for the city and, after it was recently bought by new American owners, it had gained a lot of new fans abroad with a number of fan clubs being set up in America.

Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said that, if they were aiming to attract more visitors to the area then public transport would have to be improved.

She added: "It's diabolical, it is, but it's so essential."

Members noted the contents of the report.