---

Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what value he places on Northern Ireland's connection with the Titanic as a means of attracting visitors to Northern Ireland. [182609] Mr. Gardiner: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board's `Tourism in Northern Ireland--A Strategic Framework for Action 2004--2007' has identified Belfast, and in particular its historical connections with Titanic (Maritime) Belfast, as one of five signature projects for Northern Ireland tourism. Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are currently in the process of commissioning research into realising the potential value of the `Titanic' theme for Belfast and Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that this research will begin in September 2004 with the first draft results available by January 2005. The Titanic brand could have substantial tourist potential, especially on the centenary in 2012 and the years immediately after. Conservatively, MAGNI (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland) estimate that visitor numbers to a new museum attraction and to Belfast could be in the region of 300,000 per annum. Such is the interest in the Titanic and the city in which she was built, that it is considered that visitors will be attracted from all over the world.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

182609; 424 c1141W;424 c1151W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Development plans Museums and galleries Shipping Tourism Tourist attractions RMS Titanic Belfast Harbour

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk