Belfast set for new tourist attraction 'on same scale as Titanic'

By David Hunter

Belfast may be about to get another major tourist attraction on a scale similar to that of 'Titantic Belfast'.

Q Radio understands plans are being explored for a multi million pound visitor experience in the heart of the city centre.

It will tell the story of Belfast and is likely to be situated close to the old Telegraph buildings.

Lord Mayor, Deirdre Hargey said: "The idea of this attraction is to offer another tourist product in the city centre so we can get those people from the likes of 'Titanic' or from the Causeway, into the heart of Belfast. 

"It'll showcase the best of the city and will talk about our literacy heroes, our sporting heroes, our industrial past, social past and political past.

"It'll also show our ambitions for the future. 

"Too often people are coming here and visiting these places but they don't come into the city centre. The hope is people would come in, see the real Belfast and hopefully, if they visit the attraction, they'll go to our shops and resturaunts."

Belfast City Council estimates the project could bring several million pounds to the economy each year. 

Titanic Belfast welcomed over 840,000 people in 2017/2018 marking a record year for the attraction. 

First opened in 2012, It was crowned the World's Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in 2016.

Cllr Hargey told Q Radio "The difficulty is, a lot of them (visitors) come on a bus. They go in, enjoy the attraction, but then get back on a bus and leave the city.

"We are thinking something on the scale of Titanic and it's around the 'Belfast story' showcasing the best of the City."