Tourism Ireland’s Manager Australia & New Zealand, Orla Saul, welcomed trade and industry suppliers to a Titanic Centenary event in Sydney yesterday.

We are commemorating one of the most famous ships in the world in the lead up to the 100th anniversary of the demise of the Titanic said Ms Saul. To bring this special and unique story to life we are delighted to have Susie Miller over from Ireland. Ms Miller runs Titanic Tours in Belfast and is here today to tell us the most intriguing, poignant and personal story about Titanic (See video below).

The 100th anniversary coincides with the opening of the Titanic visitor centre on 31st March in Belfast.  Some people don’t know that the Titanic was built in Belfast said Ms Saul. There’s a unique connection with the city on so many levels and this new £97 million visitor has been built to recognise Titanic’s extraordinary legacy.

The Titanic Belfast Festival runs from 31 March through until 22 April 2012 and includes plays, tours, exhibitions, talks, a laser show and a major MTV outdoor event all themed around Titanic as well as commemorations on the actual anniversary of the ship’s sinking (14-15 April).

Tourism Ireland also launched to the Australian market their new branding campaign entitled “Jump into Ireland”. The brand is about “getting into the skin of Ireland” to engage in the culture and the rich characters that are Ireland said Ms Saul.