15/04/2008 02:36:00

Liverpool's status as European Capital of Culture this year has significantly boosted the number of people visiting the city's venues.

According to the BBC, more than two million people attended a cultural event in Liverpool between January and March 2008, a 30 per cent rise on 2007 figures.

Among the Merseyside venues experiencing a rapid rise in visitors are the Walker Art Gallery, Empire Theatre, Tate Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool.

John Millward from National Museums Liverpool told the BBC: "There's a big increase in people from Europe - from Spain, from France, from Germany - and particularly from China and the Far East.

"Certainly the Capital of Culture as a brand has got across to people."

The Liverpool Culture Company's creative director, Phil Redmond, seems to agree. He told the broadcaster: "There's definitely a Capital of Culture effect. People are now realising and actually getting on board.

"There's so much going on across the city that people are now realising it's up to them to get out there and enjoy it."

Officials in Liverpool expect the number of visitors to continue increasing over the course of 2008. Overall, more than 350 events are being staged as part of the city's Capital of Culture celebrations, including a Gustav Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool, the Liverpool Sound concert at Anfield in June and the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.