Thousands flocked to Llandudno for the Victorian extravaganza

They hope to develop joint events to promote Wales to visitors.

The good weather has meant it has been a bumper bank holiday weekend for tourist businesses.

Operators in Llandudno are hoping to build on an already successful relationship with the English city a few miles across the border.

Dewi Davies, of the North Wales Tourism Partnership, said Wales needed to be part of Liverpool's success.

We have a very successful relationship with Liverpool and we're building on that David Williams, Llandudno Hospitality Association

"It's a huge opportunity - the European Year of Culture 2008," he said.

"What we must do is to establish a very strong liaison with Liverpool and use that as a way of strengthening our relationships, and build for the future - not just for 2008, but for well into the next decade".

One plan under consideration was for arts events in north Wales to twin with those in Liverpool.

He declined to discuss Liverpool's offer to host Wales' premier cultural event, the National Eisteddfod, in 2007, but said other events could also be considered for Wales to host in its own right.

"It could be fashion, it could be food," he said. "We've got a tremendous range of Welsh food produce.

"But take it to the other extreme. Should we have a sporting event that celebrates the Welsh players that have played for Everton, Liverpool and possible the Tranmere players in the past in order that we celebrate at the same time as Liverpool is celebrating?"

David Williams says north Wales will build on its Liverpool links

As visitors poured into the seaside town of Llandudno on a sunny bank holiday to enjoy the 19th Victorian-themed extravaganza, tourism chiefs there were also looking at ways of strengthening ties with Liverpool.

David Williams, chair of Llandudno Hospitality Association, said: "We have a very successful relationship with Liverpool and we're building on that.

"Events play a large part - the extravaganza is on - and we have various fun days and the cricketing festival in Colwyn Bay."

"All these sorts of things in the area help to bring people in".

Artist Susan Booth, who rungs the Snowdon Mill gallery in Porthmadog, said there was an opportunity to develop artistic links between Liverpool and north Wales.

"People tend to head to places like St Ives to view such a wealth of art whereas really in the north west of England it's on the doorstep, just two hours away," she said.