| Destination Liverpool

Capital
Culture 
LiverpoolÕs cultural venues broke box-office records galore in 2008 and MerseysideÕs economy prepared to grow by £1.3bn. 
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LiverpoolÕs year as European Capital Being European of Culture saw the regionÕs tourism and leisure sectors experience Capital of Culture unprecedented growth. By the final generated an quarter of 2008, Liverpool had attracted an amazing 3.5 million first-overall figure of time visitors. This surge in cultural £800m for the tourism saw Liverpool rise up the UK league table as the third favourite local economy city to visit and fourth most visited. 
Capital of Culture highlights: 

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Tate Liverpool recorded a 200% visitor rise on 2007 from June to August, when it hosted the specially 


commissioned Gustav Klimt exhibition. 

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Tate Liverpool and Merseyside Maritime both broke the one million visitor mark for the first time. 


The Tall ShipsÕÔParade of SailÕ 
¥	National Museums Liverpool welcomed its two millionth visitor in September 2008 Ð marking its busiest ever year. 
The cityÕs summer events programme, which included The Tall ShipsÕ Races, Mathew Street Music Festival, Go Superlambananas and the spectacular 50ft roaming spider La Machine, attracted 5.2 million people to the city. Autumn marked the start of a blockbuster season, with major events such as the MTV Europe Music Awards and BBC Sports Personality of The Year. 
By the end of 2008 nearly 60 world premieres in music, film, theatre and art were staged in Liverpool alongside over 6,000 community events, from