An extra £30 million will ring through city tills in what is expected to be a record-breaking year for tourism.

Visitors last year poured £400 million into Brighton and Hove's economy and tourism chiefs are quietly confident this year could bring an even greater bonanza.

They believe income for 2006 could climb close to £430 million.

They base the forecast on the number of inquiries at the city's Visitor Information Centre, figures, they say, that have proven "fairly" accurate in spotting trends.

There were eight million visitors to the city in 2004 and, if the trend continues all year, the total could climb to 8.5 million by the end of 2006.

And more people are staying longer and spending more while the number of day trippers is falling.

Melanie Sensicle, head of marketing for VisitBrighton, the city council-run tourism office working with the local industry, said: "This year is showing all the signs of being the best ever."

More than 20,000 people visited the information centre in Bartholomews, Brighton, in April, 22 per cent more than during the same month last year.

And those making inquiries at the centre's counter about events and accommodation was more than 5,000, 45 per cent up.

Mrs Sensicle said: "This is really good news for the city and for the 12,000 people who work in tourism."

But why is Brighton and Hove suddenly booming?

A recent Thomas Cook survey showed Britons were taking more foreign vacations but more than half of adults preferred holidaying at home in places like Blackpool and Brighton.

Mrs Sensicle said the city's "Kids Go Free" offers in national newspapers had drawn thousands to the city and their new VisitBrighton.com website was being visited 120,000 times a month.

Winter break offers including free champagne with bookings, she said, had boosted off-season trade.

She said: "Room occupancy is normally flat at that time of the year but it was up 20 per cent in December and 34 per cent in January."

The city had also improved on its kiss-me-quick image, she said.

In recent years, she said, the city had enhanced its reputation with high-quality restaurants, bars, clubs and entertainment outlets.

"And it has better promoted its heritage and history which is among the best in the country."

Kevin Berry, manager of the seafront Old Ship Hotel, believes an upturn in the economy was another reason. He said: "Consumer confidence is growing and people love to come to this city - it is a fun-buzz place to be."

His hotel has been extra busy. He said: "We were full over Easter and May Day and we would normally experience a dip after these weekends.

"This year we didn't. People stayed longer and some were walking in off the streets to book rooms."

Mr Berry said the loss of some union conferences had hurt this year but he expected the leisure market to be stronger than ever: "It is certainly up on last year so far."

Mrs Sensicle said the city's location was another factor. "Our close proximity to London, where many of our visitors live, make us a popular destination. We are the fourth most popular UK destination on lastminute.com and we are 11th in the most popular UK destinations for overseas visitors arriving at Gatwick."

Mrs Sensicle said the biggest benefactor from tourism is the support industry which includes firms servicing hotels, newsagents and shops.