Titanic Centre Tickets Go On Sale

It is now just 100 days until the official opening of Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction.

Work on the internal fit-out of the iconic six-floor building in Titanic Quarter, Northern Ireland’s largest ever tourism project, is ahead of schedule and will be completed ahead of the official opening on 31st March, 2012.

To mark today’s milestone Titanic Belfast is offering 100 free tickets (50 pairs) to lucky members of the public who can win them by visiting the Belfast Welcome Centre on Donegall Place, Belfast city centre, where Titanic Belfast tickets are on sale, today.

Claire Bradshaw, Head of Sales and Marketing, Titanic Belfast, said: "The wait is nearly over – in just 100 days from now Titanic Belfast will officially open its doors to the world and Belfast can finally begin to reclaim its place at the centre of one of the most captivating global stories in history. Interest in Titanic Belfast has been building steadily for years now, but there has been a massive surge in recent months, with enquiries and group bookings from across the world arriving with us on a daily basis.

"Worldwide interest in the Titanic story is huge and we have already secured nearly 35,000 visitors through pre-booked tours and over 100 event bookings at the Titanic Suite. Tickets are also selling well online, with buyers from Australia, the US, Canada, Germany and Spain having already purchased tickets. They will be among the 400,000 plus visitors we expect to attract in our first year, 110,000 of who will be out of state, placing Belfast very firmly at the forefront of global tourism."

Work on the Titanic Belfast building began in May 2009 and since then over 1,000 workers have worked on site during construction. The building’s iconic hulls are covered in 3,000 aluminium panels, of which two thirds are unique in design, and the hulls are the same height of Titanic from keel to deck.

One hundred Christmas shoppers will today have an opportunity to get their hands on free tickets to Titanic Belfast. The first 50 people arriving at Belfast Welcome Centre on Donegall Place between 4pm-5pm will win a pair of tickets to the attraction.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, commented: "As we move towards the completion of this iconic building, we prepare to mark the beginning of a new time of opportunity for the tourism industry here. The local economy is set for a big boost in Titanic’s centenary year as a result of the opening of Titanic Belfast and the unique programme of celebratory events in 2012.

"It has the capacity to drive significant numbers of new visitors to Belfast and Northern Ireland, increase visitor spend and create new jobs. I am delighted that we have an opportunity to capitalize on one of the world’s most globally recognized brands and help put Belfast and Northern Ireland firmly on the global tourism map."

Meanwhile, Christmas Eve will mark the conclusion of the ‘Twelve Titanic Days’ campaign, which has seen 12 lucky people buying Titanic Belfast tickets online since they went on sale on 12th December receiving a 5% discount and entered into a daily prize draw. Prizes have included highly sought-after tickets to the MTV concert taking place on Titanic’s slipway next April, along with VIP tickets to the attraction’s opening ceremony and a chance to meet Dr. Robert Ballard, the Oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreck.

Tickets for Titanic Belfast can be bought online at www.titanicbelfast.com. Tickets are also available via telephone on +44 (0)28 90 766399 or in person at the Belfast Welcome Centre on Donegall Place, Belfast, ranging from £5 for school groups through to £13.50 for adults. Discounts are available for groups, families, students and OAPs.

(GK)