Southampton City Council is hoping its new visitor guide will boost tourism in the city by ten per cent this year to £220m.

The latest visitor guide was officially launched on board P&O's cruise ship Oriana.

Southampton mayor Councillor Dennis Harryman and Mayoress Nadine Harryman, were joined by Captain Hamish Reid for the launch on board the ship before it set sail on a three-month world cruise.

The guide is intended to promote the city as a leading short-break destination and 65,000 copies will be distributed nationally.

Jointly produced by the City Council and local company Walking Distance, it contains hundreds of facts and details of interest to both visitors and city residents.

It has details on the city's maritime tradition, sport, art galleries and theatres, shopping venues, accommodation and eating out.

It also includes information on attractions on the fringes of the city such as Marwell Zoo near Winchester, the New Forest and Romsey Abbey.

The mayor said: "Our city has a lot to offer ranging from a wide variety of inspected accommodation to its attractions, shopping facilities and spectacular events throughout the year.

"I would like to thank all the partners and advertisers who have supported the guide," he added.

David Wood, tourism manager for Southampton City Council, said tourism is currently worth £200m to the city. It is hoped that the guide will help increase this by about ten per cent, to £220m.

"We will be doing some research at the end of the summer when all of the 65,000 copies have been distributed, and then we will know what the response has been," he said.

"We will also be contacting people who have asked for the guide and asking them once they got it did they come to Southampton? We are hoping the guide will lift the tourism figure by ten per cent."

The day also marked the launch of SeaBritain 2005, a national event which aims to raise awareness of maritime attractions.

Events organised in Southampton as part of SeaBritain 2005 include a 'Life at Sea' exhibition at the Maritime Museum in May, the Woolston Rowing Regatta on Weston Shore in June and the Southampton Boat Show in September.