The event is being attended by tour and holiday package buyers from across England, including London and Ipswich.

The visit is part of the ongoing effort to put the Cumbria back on the tourism after the devastating effects of foot-and-mouth.

The familiarisation weekend which starts on Friday, has been organised by English Heritage and is being supported by the city council.

New business

More than 30 tour buyers from across the country will be shown around Carlisle Castle, Lancercost Priory, and Hadrian's Wall, as well as Tullie House Museum and Carlisle Cathedral.

They will also be taken on a mystery tour of the Borders region in Scotland.

It is hoped the event will generate new business for the area and encourage more people to visit Carlisle.

Cumbria was the hardest-hit county in England by the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001.

Many tourist attractions, hotels, and others in the industry say it could take years to recover lost revenue.

Animals on more than 3,000 farms were destroyed and the tourist industry is believed to have lost �200m during the year-long outbreak.