Today, Titanic Belfast has welcomed its three-millionth visitor, Kathy Jefferson from Telford, England.
Kathy , who travelled to Belfast and Northern Ireland for the first time with her family, became Titanic Belfast’s latest milestone visitor when they booked tickets online.
The family was greeted with a VIP reception, led by Belfast’s Lord Mayor and the attraction’s Chief Executive, Tim Husbands MBE, before cutting a celebratory cake. Families from across the world joined the momentous celebrations at Titanic Belfast.
Kathy Jefferson, said, “To be named Titanic Belfast’s three-millionth guest was a wonderful surprise and it certainly made it a very memorable trip. From the moment we arrived, the impressive building, located by the Slipways where she was built, told the story of Titanic, coupled with the galleries and SS Nomadic, Titanic’s tender ship – it was the ultimate Titanic Experience. There is no doubt that Belfast is the home of the Titanic and a must-see for anyone visiting Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland.”
Having welcomed its three-millionth visitor, Titanic Belfast has once again exceeded visitor number expectations. This milestone event comes during a record-breaking August, as the visitor attraction experienced its busiest day to date.
Tim Husbands MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, commented, “Although the Titanic lies in 13,000 feet of water, the enduring story still captures minds and hearts throughout the world, Titanic Belfast is living proof of this. In the four years, we are delighted to have welcomed three million visitors from over 145 countries, who have discovered the story here in Belfast, the home of the Titanic!
“It seems like only yesterday that Titanic Belfast opened and helped turn the city of Belfast into a major player in the global tourism market. We are pleased that it has continued to have a significant positive impact on the city. Since opening there has been a sustained uplift in out-of-state visitors to Belfast and one of the main reasons for visitors to visit Belfast and Northern Ireland.”
Alderman Brian Kingston, Lord Mayor of Belfast, said: “Titanic certainly put Belfast on the map and in the minds of the world, and the Titanic Experience, and the Titanic quarter generally has proved an outstanding success in attracting visitors to our shores.
“It is real pleasure to welcome Kathy and her family to this exhibition and the many other delights that Belfast has in store for them. As a council we are continuing to invest heavily both in promoting the city, and helping improve its infrastructure and attractions for local people as well as visitors.”
Since opening in 2012, it has welcomed many VIP guests includes Her Majesty The Queen, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, TITANIC director James Cameron, the discovery of Titanic, Dr Robert Ballard, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and, as well as celebrities including Adele and Michael Bublé, to name a few.
In the first three years alone, it generated £105 million in additional tourism spend for the Northern Ireland economy, sustaining around 893 jobs each year in the wider economy. It was recently nominated for the Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction in the World Travel Awards, competing against alongside Buckingham Palace, La Sagrada Familia, The Eiffel Tower and The Roman Colosseum. It has also been included in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travelist of 500 of the world’s most striking locations, featuring everything from imposing temples to hidden gems, after only three years in operation and was named the ninth best rated museum in the UK Travellers’ Choice™ awards, announced by TripAdvisor. For more information, visit www.titanicbelfast.com.