Titanic Belfast owner Titanic Foundation Limited has revealed the most recent independent economic impact figures for the attraction.
Titanic Belfast has welcomed six million visitors from more than 145 different countries and generated £319 million in additional expenditure for the Belfast economy over the past seven years.
A "Shining Success" Story
The evaluation of Titanic Belfast's performance over the past seven years was carried out by Deloitte Northern Ireland. Office senior partner at Deloitte Northern Ireland Jackie Henry stated, "Having evaluated Titanic Belfast's story from the outset, it stands out as one of Northern Ireland's shining success stories. The report shows that Titanic Belfast is not just sustaining, but growing in popularity as a visitor attraction. Accolades such as winning the World Travel Award had a measurable impact that was harnessed, resulting in a 17% growth in out of state visitor numbers the following year. Alongside its economic impact, which has grown from £38 million on average in its first three years to £60 million per year, it has provided jobs, and raised levels of ambition and confidence in Northern Ireland."
"Strength To Strength"
Meanwhile, Titanic Foundation Limited chief executive Kerrie Sweeney commented, "In 2012, we opened Titanic Belfast with the aim of establishing Belfast as the home of Titanic, showcasing the city's maritime and industrial past, and it has certainly done this. It has gone from strength to strength on both the local, national and international level. [The latest economic impact figures have] proved it is a shining example of how a significant tourism investment combined with passion and belief can be a catalyst for economic growth and help positively position a destination on the worldwide stage."
Gallery Refreshment Programme
Titanic Foundation Limited now plans to re-invest £3 million into a Gallery Refreshment Programme.
Speaking about the Gallery Refreshment Programme, Titanic Belfast chief executive Judith Owens said, "At Titanic Belfast, we do not rest on our laurels and we are determined to build on our success, push boundaries and stay at the forefront of the industry. Through our Gallery Refreshment Programme, we aim to deliver a world-class spectacle that will continue to drive visitors to Belfast and Northern Ireland and will boost the interpretive and interactive galleries that explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Titanic, as well as the city and people which built her, in an innovative way for future generations."
Three of Titanic Belfast's nine galleries have already been redeveloped and the SS Nomadic, which is the biggest Titanic artefact and the last remaining White Star Line vessel in the world, has been added to the attraction.
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
