ECONOMY Minister Conor Murphy has said the Wild Atlantic Way could be extended to the North of Ireland.
The 1,553 mile coastal route stretches from Kinsale in Co Cork, to the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal.
The route was launched a decade ago and is credited with helping boost tourism in the west of the country.
Mr Murphy has said he wants to start discussions about using the route and other Fáilte Ireland brands in the North of Ireland.
As a Fáilte Ireland initiative, the Wild Atlantic Way does not currently include the North of Ireland along the route.
Fáilte Ireland estimates the Wild Atlantic Way generates revenue of around £2.58 billion per year for communities along the route.
Mr Murphy, whose ministerial brief includes tourism, has said he wants discussions to include consideration of “rolling the wild Atlantic Way into the Causeway Coastal Route”.
The possibility of extending the Wild Atlantic Way has been floated before but no serious proposals ever previously emerged.
Talks would need to consider how the move would impact existing tourism branding in the North of Ireland and any potential costs.
