THE Giant’s Causeway, the north’s first Unesco World Heritage site, is celebrating one million visitors since the start of the year, the only visitor attraction in Northern Ireland to reach such a milestone.
The iconic attraction on the Causeway Coast, which is owned and cared for by conservation charity the National Trust, has seen its visitor numbers increase by 33 per cent since 2013.
Recently hailed as the number one region in the world to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel authority, the site was also named the Best UK Heritage Attraction for the third consecutive time at the British Travel Awards earlier this month.
National Trust Northern Ireland director Heather McLachlan said: “Attracting over one million visitors to the Giant’s Causeway this year is an incredible achievement and I am really proud of the National Trust team on the North Coast who provide a world-class visitor experience.
"We are committed to delivering a responsible and sustainable tourism offering that minimises social, economic and environmental impacts whilst generating greater economic benefits for local people and enhancing the wellbeing of the local community.
“Situated between the famous Walled City of Derry and Titanic Port of Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway offers visitors the opportunity to marvel at this area of outstanding beauty whilst unlocking the stories of the stunning rock formation.
"International guests now represent over 70 per cent of visitors and this growth can be attributed to our close partnership with tourist bodies such as Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI combined with an excellent visitor experience, which begins at the award-winning Visitor Centre.”
