Construction has begun on a new £600,000 visitor centre at Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland.

The new entrance pavilion will include a new souvenir shop, pay-booths and payment systems, a covered walkway for wet weather shelter and a tourist exhibition space focussing on native and non-native wildlife.

The entrance will include high level roofing that optimises the best use of natural light, interpretive panels detailing current zoo events and promotions, multi media presentations and exhibition space to inform tourists of the Zoo and its history in Belfast.

A special exhibition space will focus on the Zoo`s contribution to wildlife and will feature educational information from other organisations connected with wildlife protection.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has grant-aided the ambitious redevelopment plans to the tune of £250,000, through the Tourism Development Scheme.

An additional £350,000 has come from Belfast City Council to allow the Zoo to develop an entrance capable of receiving the increasing numbers of visitors. Visitor levels to the Zoo have increased by 50 per cent since 2004, to a record of 295,000 people in 2007.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of The Northern Ireland Tourist Board said: “The Tourism Development Scheme offers financial assistance to local tourism capital projects."