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Northern Ireland has much to offer as a tourist destination - in particular the quality of the rural landscape and its rich cultural heritage. A relatively unspoilt coastline, attractive mountain areas and a wealth of lakes and rivers create a scenic beauty which places Northern Ireland among some of the best potential holiday destinations. Many of the natural attractions are of international acclaim including the Giants Causeway, the Mountains of Mourne and the Fermanagh Lakeland.

Tourism makes an important contribution to the Northern Ireland economy with income derived from tourist activity being distributed across many economic sectors. Tourism can also be of particular significance in the diversification of the rural economy and in the regeneration of certain towns and villages.

At the same time there is a growing concern about the impact of tourism on the environment and on local communities. Tourism can damage and destroy the assets it seeks to exploit, in particular through excessive visitor numbers, inappropriate development, various types of pollution and other forms of adverse impact. The relationship between tourism and the environment must be managed so that tourism continues to support local communities and remains viable in the long term.