1,000km of traffic-free paths, trailing to every corner of the country – what a spectacular selling point to promote tourism in Northern Ireland.

There are millions of people across Europe and beyond who would consider basing a holiday to Ireland around long distance cycling trips. Even on a small scale, the 42km Great Western Greenway in County Mayo points to the potential – delivering tens of thousands of additional tourist trips into the area, along with an estimated €7 million boost to the economy, each year. Scale that up across the whole of Northern Ireland, with a vast array of journey options, could be amazing.

Imagine the jobs we could support in the outdoor activity and hospitality sectors alone. Almost every major local tourist attraction would linked by this network. Old connections would be renewed between villages, towns and cities, with an alternative to private car travel. Safe space for individuals and families to walk or cycle, jog or walk the dog, opening access to our countryside.