Lonely Planet has named Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the number one region in the world to visit next year.

It came in ahead of Alaska, the Languedoc-Roussillon area in France and the Aeolian islands in Italy in the travel publication's 'Best in Travel 2018'.

Belfast is described as full of hip neighbourhood, while the Titanic Belfast museum is said to be 'sensational".

The Causeway Coast, meanwhile, has "timeless beauty and distractions including golf, whiskey, and famous rocks."

Tourism Ireland has said it will "take every opportunity" to promote & publicise the accolade, including during a promotional campaign targeting 14 countries across multiple continents.

Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons - CEO of Tourism Ireland - said: "The inclusion of Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the Number One Region in the world in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 is wonderful news and will surely help to inspire travellers everywhere to put Northern Ireland on their holiday wish-list for next year.

"It is another well-deserved accolade, which provides Tourism Ireland with a great hook to continue to promote Belfast and the Causeway Coast around the world as a ‘must visit’ destination."

Brilliant that Belfast and the Causeway Coast have been named the Number One Region in the world to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet pic.twitter.com/0EsAflQkke

— Niall Gibbons (@NiallGibbons) October 24, 2017

It comes a year after Kerry's Skellig Ring was named among Lonely Planet's top 10 global destinations for 2017