NI the 'place to go' in 2007

Northern Ireland has been named as one of the countries travellers 'must' take in by Lonely Planet.

The travel guide has released its "Go List", detailing a list of countries which 'must be seen' in 2007.

Belfast was identified as a hotspot and featured as one of the top ten cities on the way up.

Maureen Wheeler, who helped found Lonely Planet and grew up in the Northern Irish city, was effusive in her tribute to her home city.

"I love the city, its grittiness, its resilience and its beauty and I love how Belfast people turn every social interaction into an excuse for a party," she said.

"The landscape of Northern Ireland is astonishingly beautiful, the people are warm and genuine, and yet it is still relatively undiscovered which makes it the perfect destination."

Other cities to make it on to the Go List included Beirut, Gabon and China's Xinjiang.