West Belfast is planning to transform itself into a dual-currency zone to enhance the area's business and tourism potential.
A scheme to turn the area into a euro-friendly zone was unveiled yesterday by Fáilte Feirste Thiar (Welcome to West Belfast), the West Belfast Partnership's tourism initiative.
Some 120 local businesses, including shops, bars, cafés, the famous west Belfast black taxis and Féile an Phobail - the west Belfast festival - have signed up to the scheme, with promises of further participants to come.
Ciara Boyle, tourism development officer for Fáilte Feirste Thiar said: "The euro zone launch is really only the beginning of making this area totally euro friendly. West Belfast is leading the way in attracting new visitors and providing options for their spending as part of an overall strategic package aimed at finding gaps in the tourism market for a unique area."
Laura Leonard, European manager at Belfast City Council, said: "This quite simply makes it easy to do business here and helps to give the west of the city a very competitive edge."
Gerry Carson, West Belfast Partnership chairman, said: "As a lifelong supporter of the European movement, I am very proud that west Belfast is leading the way, making it easier for the rest of the city and indeed the rest of the North to implement euro zones."
With improved North-South connections and new air routes to Belfast, it is hoped that being euro friendly will help west Belfast capture a greater slice of the European tourist trade.