UK capital of culture 'boosted Londonderry tourism by 50%'

Derry held the title of the UK's first City of Culture in 2013

UK capital of culture events boosted tourism in Londonderry in 2013, according to new government figures.

Overnight trips to the Derry and Strabane district council area were said to have increased by 50% on 2012, putting £47m into its economy.

The data is based on the 11 new local government districts and provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

It also ranked the Giant's Causeway as Northern Ireland's top attraction.

Holidaymakers

NISRA said 754,000 people visited the causeway in 2013, ahead of Titanic Belfast (604,000), the Ulster Museum (416,000) and Derry's Walls (411,000).

Its figures also showed that one in every four overnight trips to Northern Ireland involved staying in Belfast.

The information covers holidaymakers, business trips and people visiting friends and family.

NISRA said the Causeway Coast and Glens is the most popular area in Northern Ireland for overnight holiday purposes, followed by the Newry, Mourne and Down council area.