The British government has announced plans for the regeneration of the Antrim coast and neighbouring areas of outstanding beauty.
Northern Ireland Office ministers are launching an international competition for the development of the area around the Giant's Causeway, the North's only World Heritage Site.
The competition will also include a design for a new visitor centre. The previous centre was destroyed by fire three years ago and was replaced only with temporary buildings.
The Giant's Causeway attracts almost 500,000 visitors a year, making it the North's top tourist attraction. The proposals have been endorsed by Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Mr Ian Pearson, and the Environment Minister, Ms Angela Smith.
They said the plans would focus on creating a better spread of tourist facilities in the region. Mr Pearson said the competition would ensure the visitor centre complemented the Giant's Causeway's status as a World Heritage Site. "It will determine the most appropriate location, purpose, nature and scale of facilities in line with the principles of sustainable development and viability in the context of prevailing planning policies," he said.
Plans are also under way to commission a master-plan for the socio-economic regeneration of the wider area, including the Glens area of outstanding beauty.
Proposals will also focus on bus routes, a heritage train, footpaths and cycle routes.
"The provision of facilities beyond the Giant's Causeway will have a number of benefits including easing the pressure on the site itself, assisting in encouraging visitors to stay longer in the locality and thus increase spending," Mr Pearson said.
The proposals have been welcomed by local politicians. DUP Assembly member, Mr Ian Paisley jun, described the international competition as a "wonderful idea". SDLP Assembly member, Mr Sean Farren said: "The competition will not only ensure the facilities are of the highest standard but will in itself also attract considerable attention and interest to the Causeway."