A NEW drive to attract thousands more visitors to Ipswich is underway to help boost one of Suffolk's biggest businesses.As the first of 42,000 copies of Ipswich's new tourist guide are sent around the UK, an appeal has gone out to help attract more people to the area.

A NEW drive to attract thousands more visitors to Ipswich is underway to help boost one of Suffolk's biggest businesses.

As the first of 42,000 copies of Ipswich's new tourist guide are sent around the UK, an appeal has gone out to help attract more people to the area.

Tourism brings in more than £124 million to the town's economy and also supports 3,000 full-time jobs.

Councillor Philip Smart, the council's economic development spokesman, said the guide hopes to boost this further and added it is also aimed at a more local audience.

"The guide is also for residents and we hope that by telling families and friends they can help boost this key sector even more," he said.

"Our message is, 'If you have relatives who perhaps live in another part of the country or even the world for that matter send them a copy of this guide so they can see what Ipswich has to offer'."

The new Ipswich & District Guide has been produced by Ipswich Borough Council, in association with the Ipswich & District Hotels Association. Copies will be sent to tourist information centres and tour operators up and down the country.

The guide focuses on the fast developing Waterfront and features a series of My Ipswich stories by a number of prominent local people.

Christchurch Mansion, the Ipswich Transport Museum and Cardinal Park are just some of the other attractions on offer in the town.

Also included is information on the surrounding coast and countryside.

To get your copy, pop into the Tourist Information Centre, in St Stephen's Church, Ipswich.