Visitors to Northern Ireland totalled 1.4 million last year and they spent more than £217 million, according to data released by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

This represents an increase of 62,000, or 4 per cent, over the previous year, and reflects a modest growth in the numbers of people coming to Northern Ireland from Britain and the Republic. The increase in "pure holiday visitors" was put at 14,000, bringing the total in this category to 277,000, a rise of around 5 per cent.

There was also an increase in European and north American visitors, including a 40 per cent rise in visitors from Holland. But this was offset by a 10 per cent fall in visitors from Australia and New Zealand.

The amount visitors spent rose slightly in 1998 to £217 million, from £208 million the previous year, an increase of 2 per cent in real terms.