The 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking means Halifax is set to be one of the world’s top tourist destinations in 2012.

Titanic famously struck an iceberg in April 1912 just south of the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic. Much of the rescue effort was launched from Halifax, and many of the victims were buried here. CNN, Lonely Planet and Fox have all named Halifax a must-see destination this spring.

At a media launch at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic on Thursday, the province and HRM unveiled their plans.

Ken Pinto, executive director of Titanic 100, has said he has been entrusted with $200,000 for the commemoration. The province would not say how much it was budgeting.

Part of the money will be spent on a wake/walk April 14, on what Pinto calls “Titanic Eve,” and then a “Night of the Bells” timed with the Titanic hitting an iceberg early April 15.

“We’re planning to have several churches ring their bells at 12:20 a.m. Then all the ships in the harbour will sound their horns,” he said.  

Fireworks or flares will be deployed to mirror the Titanic firing off rescue flares.

A wreath-laying ceremony at the Fairview cemetery will follow in the daytime. Pinto was vague on details and spoke more of what he hopes will happen.

Eventually, Pinto wants to build a 25-foot model Titanic to put in Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

He was joined by provincial Tourism Minister Percy Paris, HRM’s Deputy Mayor Bill Karsten and Halifax MLA Leonard Preyra.

Mainstay Titanic sites in Halifax are the museum’s display of artifacts, the Fairview cemetery and a few sites connected to the 1997 film Titanic.

“Hopefully that will generate tourist dollars for years, because Titanic never goes away,” Pinto said.