The Antrim Coast Road is a favourite with visitors

The number of tourists coming to Northern Ireland has increased by 2%, the NI Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland have said.

There were 1.8m visitors last year, bringing �340m into the economy.

Within the overall 2% increase, visitors from Europe rose by 28% while those coming from North America to Northern Ireland jumped by 14%.

However, there has been a 42,000 drop in tourists from the main British market.

It is believed the drop in numbers is partly being blamed on several days of loyalist violence surrounding the Whiterock Orange Order parade in summer 2005.

'Potential'

The figures were released as the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland presented details of overseas marketing plans and growth strategy for 2007.

NITB chief executive Alan Clarke said no-one would have thought 12 months ago that Northern Ireland "would be tipped as a must-see destination" by the Lonely Planet tourist guide.

"We must be aware, however, of the considerable potential that still exists closer to home in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland," he said.

This year also saw a root and branch review by Tourism Ireland of the all important North American market which is showing excellent holidaymaker growth of 20% into Northern Ireland Paul O'Toole Tourism Ireland

"The Republic of Ireland, particularly, offers untapped lucrative business for Northern Ireland".

Tourism Ireland's chief executive Paul O'Toole said his group intended to "continue to grow tourism "to the island of Ireland, and within that, Northern Ireland, at a higher rate of growth than international tourism".

"This year also saw a root and branch review by Tourism Ireland of the all important North American market which is showing excellent holidaymaker growth of 20% into Northern Ireland," he said.

Northern Ireland was tipped by a travel guide as one of the "must-see" countries to visit in 2007.

The Lonely Planet Bluelist featured Northern Ireland in the "Go List" section of its guide - a chapter dedicated to detailing the hot destinations for the coming year.

In another section of the book, Belfast was listed as one of the top 10 cities "on the rise".