In only its second year, the Titanic Belfast Museum has become Northern Ireland’s top visitor attraction.

Tourists from North America made up the third biggest percentage of visitors to Titanic Belfast, located where RMS Titanic was built in Belfast’s shipyard more than 100 years ago.

North American visitors to Titanic Belfast since the attraction opened on March 31, 2012, have made up almost 8 percent of overall tourists.

With increased business from tour operators in 2013, new operators are expected in 2014 to join the likes of CIE, Sceptre Tours, Celtic Journeys and Isle Inn Tours.

“The popularity of Titanic in the United States and Canada knows no bounds," Titanic Belfast CEO Tim Husbands said. "The story has very strong links with North America, and people from the US and Canada are coming to Belfast to visit the birthplace of the great liner, thus completing the circle of this fascinating and enduring story.”