FOR many it is hard to imagine Bolton being a major tourist attraction. After all our image is one of sooty cobbled streets with poor people wearing mufflers huddled under a gas lamp.

But we know of course that image, mainly held by those who don't know the North, is way out of date - if it ever was true.

We know that we live in a town with a glorious past that has taken modernism in its stride and looks to the future with confidence.

As an architectural blast from the past you can no t get better than the beautiful Town Hall and The Crescent - resplendent in matching stone.

But we can proudly look to the future with the impressive Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium in the middle of the much visited Middlebrook development.

Bolton's head of tourism Nick White said: "We always hear from people how friendly people in the North in general are and how friendly people in Bolton are in particular. It's recognised everywhere."

Now tourism bosses are looking to the future to really put Bolton on the tourist map.

To that end tourism officers have visited Bolton's twin town of Paderborn in Germany where great interest was shown in the literature they handed out. There are also plans to promote tourism in Bolton's other twin town, Le Mans in France.

According to tourism department figures, Bolton already has more than nine million visitors who spend around £330 million a year.

The growing tourism market has also meant a job boost for the town. In the five year period from 2000 to 2005, the number of jobs increased by 545 to 5,382 - an 11 per cent rise. In the same period, visitor numbers rose by 20 per cent from 7.8 million to 9.3 million.

The figures are compiled as part of an annual research report commissioned by Marketing Manchester in collaboration with the 10 Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) together with the North-west Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

As one of the 10 towns within Greater Manchester, Bolton is already a significant contributor to the regional tourist mix.

Unique to all the towns in Greater Manchester, Bolton's head of tourism Mr White spends part of each week working with Marketing Manchester to help forge better relationships between Bolton and the wider region.

The town already attracts groups of coach parties to the open market and for general shopping, offering free parking for coach operators.

Through its M61 Meetings Group, it has succeeded in beating its own target of attracting conferences to the town's hotels.

Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive was voted third in the list of most visited attractions in Greater Manchester in 2005, attracting 271,462 visitors. The art gallery has been refurbished and new bays exhibit items from around the world.

Animal World at Moss Bank Park, the stone-built Last Drop Village, good hotels and B&Bs, also help attract people to the town.

Obviously, Bolton Wanderers flying high in the Premiership helps attract visitors to watch the football who then often return having been impressed with the town.

We should never forget that we are also surrounded by beautiful countryside - it might not rival the sheer majesty of the Lake District but the West Pennine Moors attracts many visitors in its own right who love walking.

The success of our home grown celebrities, such as Peter Kay, Vernon Kay, boxer Amir Khan and a clutch of national DJs, also helps put Bolton on the tourist map.

Bolton's five year plan is ambitious - tourism bosses say there is still potential for growth and the council plans to work with partners such as Marketing Manchester, The North-west Regional Development Agency, the M61 Meetings Group and local transport operators, to put Bolton on the regional map by 2011.

As Mr White says: "We want to be recognised as one of the most important tourist destinations in the North-west - that's our goal."

Bolton Council's executive member for development, Councillor Ebrahim Adia said: "Bolton is actively promoting itself as a tourism destination and these figures show we are getting things right.

"A new tourism strategy was launched in 2006 and this, along with the exciting development proposals for the town centre, including a new cultural quarter, will be key to attracting more people to the town in future years."

l Bolton tourist bosses are entering a total of 11 categories in the Manchester Tourism Awards 2007.

The council was buoyed by the success of Bolton Market winning the best Retail Outlet in the Manchester Food and Drink Festival.

In the main Tourism Event the council has entered Bolton Food and Drink Festival, Horwich Carnival Races and Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub (for elements of the Bolton Food and Drink Festival).

For Outstanding Customer Service, a member of staff at Ramada Bolton, trainee manager Emma Chesney, has been entered while Ye Olde Man and Scythe represents the town in the Tourism Bar of the Year section.

In the Tourism Restaurant of the Year section, The Achari Restaurant has been chosen.

Egerton House is the entry to The Small Hotel of the Year award, while the De Vere Whites and Holiday Inn have been put forward for the Large Hotel of the Year award.

And Bolton Market has been selected to represent the town in the Tourism of the Year award, while the M61 Meetings Group has been chosen for the Business Tourism Awards.