A new £500,000 marketing campaign, designed to promote Belfast as a 'City of Music', has been launched by Northern Ireland tourism minister Arlene Foster.

More than 10 million potential UK visitors will be targeted as part of the initiative, which is being led by Tourism Ireland and will aim to capitalise on the city's musical heritage. New advertisements are to be run across 60 national and regional radio stations, while the campaign will also target British users of the Spotify online music service and other websites.

Foster said: "Encouraging holidaymakers from GB to come over and enjoy the thriving music and festival scene here in Belfast is an ideal way to promote everything the city has to offer. "Given the later than ever booking pattern, we still have real opportunities to persuade people to take holidays and city breaks in Belfast and Northern Ireland."

Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons added: "We know that hundreds of thousands of British people will take a short break or holiday between now and the end of the year. Tourism Ireland aims to win as much of that business as possible." Image: Britain On View