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75+ interesting ireland travel & tourism statistics (latest 2024 data).

The island of Ireland is becoming one of the most important destinations in Europe's travel and tourism landscape. With magical sceneries and truly endless things to do in Ireland , it truly is a treasure trove of otherworldly charms.

Made up of the Republic of Ireland, as well as Northern Ireland which is part of the UK. This island is the birthplace of many illustrious writers including Oscar Wilde. It is also known for the lavish landscape and stunning medieval castles.

So, it should not be a surprise that millions of people visit Ireland each year. In fact, the island welcomed 17.3 million overseas arrivals to its air and sea ports in 2022 .

The tourism sector is becoming a more and more integral part of the Irish economy and lifestyle. 5.6% of all employed people in Ireland actually work in the travel industry.

We have compiled some of the most interesting statistics about travel and tourism in Ireland, from the number of tourists it receives each year to how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Irish tourism.

Let’s dive right in!

Sources: After each stat, I have referenced where the data was gathered and curated from. For a full list of all articles and sources used in this roundup, please head to the bottom of the post. At the time of publication, these are the most up-to-date statistics available. Little data was gathered in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Travellerspoint

Ireland Tourism Key Findings

• Ireland welcomed 17.3 million overseas arrivals to its air and sea ports in 2022
• There were 738,000 overseas tourists who visited Ireland in August 2023 for at least 1 night.
• Total tourism on the island of Ireland generated £7.8 billion of revenue in 2019
• International tourism contributed around £5.1 billion of that amount, while residents from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland spent £2.7 billion
• Nearly 70% of all international tourists in Ireland are from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany or France
• 50% of visitors to Ireland come for holidaying purposes, while 1 in 3 people come to visit friends or relatives. 14% come for business visits
• The average overseas tourist spends £451 per trip and stays for 7.3 nights
• Outbound trips from Ireland rose from 2021, but remained slightly below the peak in 2019, at around 8.8 million outbound trips in 2022.
• The most popular tourist destination in Ireland is Dublin , followed by the South West and Northern Ireland
• The tourism sector in Ireland contributed more than 127,100 jobs in 2018, and this number is expected to rise dramatically by 2028
• For every €1 million spent on overseas marketing, Ireland enjoys €41 million in economic return

Overseas Tourism in Ireland Statistics

How Popular is Ireland Among International Tourists?

1. In 2022, the Republic of Ireland received nearly 17.3 million overseas arrivals to air and sea ports.

[TourismIreland]

In 2022, overseas arrivals to the Republic of Ireland (this includes residents of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) were only at 86% of the 2019 levels.

2. There were 738,000 overseas tourists who visited Ireland in August 2023 for at least 1 night.

260 thousand of these overnight visitors came from Great Britain, 273 thousand were from mainland Europe , while 165 thousand were from North America.

4. In August 2023, international tourists spent a total of 7,338,000 nights in Ireland.

The tourism market that spends the most nights in Ireland is mainland European (3.28 million nights in August 2023).

5. In 2019, international tourism in Ireland generated around £5.1 billion in revenue.

The island of Ireland generated €5.9 or £5.1 billion from tourist expenditure in 2019.

6. 50% of visitors to Ireland come for holidaying purposes.

Half of all overseas visitors to Ireland are holiday makers, 32% are visiting friends or on a family trip , 14% are coming on business visits, while 4% are visiting for other purposes.

7. The average overseas tourist spends £451 per trip and stays for 7.3 nights.

The average spend by an overseas tourist in 2019 was £451, while the average length of stay was 7.3 nights.

8. International spending accounted for 76.4% of the total travel and tourism expenditure in Ireland in 2022. 

Meanwhile, domestic spending made up 23.6% of the total travel and tourism expenditure in Ireland in 2022.

9. Nearly 70% of all international tourists in Ireland are from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany or France.

Ireland receives the most tourists from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%), Germany (7%), and France (5%) .

10. 29% of all international tourists stay with friends or relatives when visiting Ireland.

11. North American tourists travel more extensively than tourists from other places.

They usually include an average of 2.5 regions in their trip compared to the 1.9 region of overseas tourists as a whole.

12. More than half of all overseas vacationers to Ireland are at least 35 years old.

Tourists from mainland Europe tend to be younger (47% are below 35 years old) whereas tourists from Other Areas are typically older, with 62% being above 35 years old.

Learn more about age-specific travel trends in our Millennial Travel Statistics .

13. 67% of all holiday makers in 2019 were coming to the Island of Ireland for the first time ever.

This was a huge increase from only 59% in 2009.

14. The most popular tourist destination in Ireland is Dublin (59% of all overseas visitors), followed by the South West (21%) and Northern Ireland (20%).

15. border, which includes cavan, donegal, leitrim, monaghan, and sligo, was the least popular region for overseas visitors. it welcomed 768,000 visitors in 2019., irish tourism for great britain visitors.

How Many British Tourists Visit Ireland?

16. Great Britain remains Ireland’s top market source for travel and tourism.

Britain is the most important market for Ireland in terms of tourists and nights.

17. 42% of all overseas trips to Ireland come from Great Britain.

18. in 2019, 4.8 million tourists from great britain visited ireland..

Great Britain is the world's 4th largest outbound market making around 93 million trips annually, 5% of which is to the island of Ireland.

19. Among those, 83% are from England, 14% from Scotland, and 4% from Wales.

Scotland makes up 14% of all British tourists that travelled to Ireland in 2019.

20. Most British tourists stay between 1 to 3 nights in Ireland, while only 10% stay for more than 9 nights.

For most tourists from Great Britain (58%), the ideal length of trip to Ireland is between 1 and 3 nights. Only 10% of British tourists stay for 9 nights or longer.

21. Tourists from Great Britain generate up to £1.3 billion, which is one-fourth of Ireland’s total tourist revenue.

In 2019, Ireland made €1.4 or £1.3 billion in revenue from British tourists alone, which accounts to 25% of the island’s tourism revenue.

22. Ireland is the 6th most popular outbound destination among tourists from Great Britain.

23. food & drink represents the largest portion of holiday spending in ireland by uk visitors..

38% of all holiday expenditure by British tourists goes towards food & drink. Followed by accommodation, shopping, then transport.

American Tourists in Ireland

How Do American Visitors Contribute to Ireland’s Tourism Sector?

24. The USA contributes the most out of all overseas markets in Ireland in terms of revenue, and 2nd in terms of tourists.

The United States of America is the largest source of overseas revenue for Ireland and the 2nd most important source of tourists after Great Britain.

25. In 2019, there were 1.7 million tourists coming to Ireland from the United States of America. This number has grown by 61% since 2014.

The United States has the largest outbound market in the world. In 2019, 43% of outbound trips from the US were to Europe and 9% of these included a visit to Ireland.

26. American tourists spent £1.4 billion in Ireland in 2019.

This amount has grown by 71% since 2014.

27. The average expenditure of an American tourist in Ireland is £797 per visit. 36% of this is typically spent on food & drink.

For an average trip to the island of Ireland by an American holidaymaker, they would spend £797. With food & drink being the largest portion of expenditure, followed by accommodation, shopping and transport.

28. The average length of stay for American tourists in Ireland is 8 nights.

29% of American tourists stay for 6-8 nights in Ireland.

29. During summer of 2019, Ireland airports welcomed 217 departures per week from the US.

This is almost 55,000 direct air seats per week leaving from the US to Ireland.

30. US vacationers make up 22% of all vacationers arriving in Ireland in 2019.

31. the island of ireland is the 8th most popular destination on the us holiday maker’s travel bucket list., domestic and outbound tourism in ireland.

How popular is Ireland among domestic tourists?

32. In 2022, there were 13.2 million domestic trips in Ireland, which is an increase from 2019.

[Failte Ireland]

13.2 million trips to Ireland were made in 2022 by domestic tourists, which is a slight increase from 2019 (11.6 million trips).

33. Nearly 1 in 2 of these domestic trips was a holiday trip.

Nearly half of the total domestic trips made to Ireland in 2022 were for holidaying purposes.

34. 4.56 million domestic trips in Ireland were made to visit friends and relatives.

Meanwhile, 528 thousand were business trips.

35. 31% of overnight holidaymakers in Ireland stayed in hotels, while 12% stayed in holiday homes.

Hotels are the most popular accommodation choice among domestic tourists in Ireland. Meanwhile, 12% of them stay in holiday homes. Airbnb statistics have yet to be confirmed for Ireland tourism.

36. The most popular time to visit Ireland for domestic holiday makers is between July and September, with 40% of all domestic trips in Ireland made during this period.

The second most popular time is April to June (27%).

37. Outbound trips from Ireland rose from 2021, but remained slightly below the peak in 2019, at around 8.8 million outbound trips in 2022.

38. tourists from ireland spent almost 8.6 billion euros in 2022 on overseas trips, the highest figure between 2013 and 2022., 39. the number of domestic day trips in ireland rose in 2022, reaching 16.17 million trips..

Motivation for Visiting Ireland

Why do tourists come to Ireland?

40. 50% of visitors to Ireland come for holidaying purposes, while 1 in 3 people come to visit friends or relatives. 14% come for business visits.

[TourismIreland] 

14% of all visitors to Ireland come for business purposes.

41. One of the most popular activities to do in Ireland is hiking or cross country walking, which engaged around 2,392,000 overseas visitors in 2019.

Nature-oriented activities remain the most popular among both domestic and overseas visitors to Ireland alike, with hiking or cross country walking being a favourite for overseas tourists.

42. 361,000 overseas tourists in 2019 were involved in cycling activities while in Ireland.

43. the internet is the biggest source of information for tourists planning a trip to ireland.

Most overseas visitors to Ireland use the internet to plan their trip . On the other hand, one-fourth of them also rely on guide books, while only 14% plan with the help of travel agents.

This shows the increasing role of online booking in travel .

44. 39% of overseas holiday makers in Ireland in 2019 came as a couple, while 1 in every 5 visited alone.

About 20% of all leisure visitors to Ireland are solo travellers .

Employment in the Irish Travel Industry

How many people are involved in the tourism sector in Ireland?

45. The tourism sector in Ireland contributed more than 127,100 jobs in 2018. This is about 5.6% of the total employment in Ireland.

In 2018, there were 127,100 people employed in the Irish tourism sector, which is around 5.6% of all employment in Ireland.

46. The Statista Research Department forecasts that this number will rise to 180,400 by 2028.

47. In 2022, the number of direct and indirect contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Ireland was 129.5 thousand, or 6.9% lower than 2019 (139.1 thousand jobs).

48. every €1 million in tourist expenditure can support 27 jobs in the tourism sector in ireland..

Failte Ireland estimates that every €1 million spent by tourists in Ireland can support 27 jobs in the country’s travel industry.

Tourism and Ireland’s Economy

How does the tourism sector affect the economy in Ireland?

49. From 2012 to 2018, travel and tourism has overall increased its contribution to the GDP of Ireland.

50. in 2018, the tourism industry made €17.9 billion contribution to ireland’s gdp, which is roughly 5.4% of the country’s total gdp..

51. By 2028, this amount is expected to increase to €26 billion.

Statista forecasts that the Irish tourism sector will contribute up to €26 billion in GDP for the country’s economy.

52. In 2019, total tourism on the island of Ireland generated £7.8 billion.

53. overseas visitors remain the most important source of tourists for the island of ireland, contributing to around £5.1 billion..

Visitors from the US are the most important source in terms of tourist revenue for the island of Ireland.

54. Meanwhile, residents of the Republic of Ireland spent £2 billion in expenditure and those from Northern Ireland contributed £666 million.

Domestic tourists from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland also contribute a significant amount of tourism revenue.

55. Every euro spent on tourism in Ireland generates 23c in tax.

56. travel and tourism contributed, both directly and indirectly, 14.9 billion euros to ireland’s gdp in 2022..

This is unfortunately lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 15.9 billion euros in 2019.

57. In terms of travel spending, the highest share of travel and tourism spending in Ireland in 2022 comes from leisure spending (57.5%).

The other 42.5% is from business spending, which is a higher proportion compared to to 2019, when business spending made up only 29.8% of the total travel and tourism spending in Ireland.

Tourist Attractions in Ireland

What are the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland?

58. 4 out of the top 10 free (and 4 out of the top 10 paid) attractions in Ireland are found in Dublin.

Dublin is home to 4 of the 10 most popular free and paid attractions in Ireland. This includes the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo, Book of Kells, and St Patrick’s Cathedral for the paid attraction.

There are also the National Gallery of Ireland, National Botanic Gardens, National Museum of Ireland Archaeology, and Irish Museum of Modern Art for the free attractions.

59. Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is the top paid tourist attraction in Ireland, which received 1.7 million visits in 2019 alone.

60. Free attractions are actually less popular in Ireland, with the most visited free attraction, Castletown House Parklands in Kildare, receiving 966 thousand visits in 2019.

Effects of the covid-19 pandemic in ireland.

How did the recent Coronavirus pandemic impact tourism in Ireland?

61. In March 2020, overseas arrivals (air and sea) in Ireland decreased by 56.7% from the previous year.

[Central Statistics Office]

In March 2020 when Covid-19 began to directly impact Ireland and the UK, international arrivals in Ireland fell by 56.7% from March 2019.

61. When the pandemic caused a sudden collapse in international travel in April 2020, the number decreased by 99.1%.

There were only 16,100 arrivals in Ireland in April 2020, compared to 1.7 million in April 2019. This is a substantial decrease of 99.1%.

63. One year later in April 2021, there was a 331.2% increase in overseas arrivals in Ireland.

The most recent statistics of overseas travel in Ireland shows that air and sea travel are slowly recovering from the year-long travel ban and restrictions. It still hasn’t regained its levels before the pandemic, but is an improvement from 2020.

64. June 2021 sees 57,100 overseas arrivals, which is a 180% increase from previous year.

While this number is steadily increasing, it is still far below the pre-pandemic arrival level of 1.9 million in June 2019.

65. A recent study shows that 42% of global holiday makers expect their next European holiday to be in 2022.

66. when choosing a travel destination in europe for future plans, the most desirable elements for most holiday makers include beautiful scenery and history and culture..

Holiday makers around the world admit that when choosing a European travel destination for their post-Covid plan, the most important elements are beautiful scenery and rich history and culture. The island of Ireland abounds with both of these.

Accommodation & Travel in Ireland statistics

How many hotels are there in Ireland?

67. The Irish hotel industry is valued at €3.9 billion and ranked 10th in Europe in 2023 (of 27 total EU countries).

[IbisWorld]

The market size of the hotel industry in Ireland has decreased by an average of 1.6% per year between 2018 and 2023.

68. In 2023, there are 56,468 people employed in the hotel industry in Ireland.

This is an average of 26.7 employees per hotel.

69. There are 1,583 hotel businesses in Ireland as of 2023.

70. in ireland, the hotel occupancy was 81% between january and september 2023, up +1% from the january to september 2019 period., 71. hotel occupancy for january to september 2023 in northern ireland was 76%, or an increase of +4% compared to january to september 2019., 72. in the period of january-september 2023, the average daily rate (adr) for a hotel room in ireland was €174., 73. meanwhile, the adr for a hotel room in dublin was €186 per night, or €12 higher than the country average..

While hotels in Dublin tend to be on the expensive side, it is still a beautiful destination for backpackers .

74. By December 2023, Cork and Dublin airports are expected to return to 123% and 106% of their respective December 2019 seat capacities. 

This shows a positive recovery on the demand for air travel around the world following the pandemic in 2021.

75. Meanwhile, Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport are predicted to reach 119% and 117% of their December 2019 seat capacities respectively. 

76. During January-September 2023, ferry passengers to and from the island of Ireland was at 95% of January-September 2019 levels.

This includes 89% for the Republic of Ireland and 102% for Northern Island.

Final Thoughts

The tourism sector in Ireland contributes to 5.4% of the island’s total GDP and this amount is only expected to rise from now on.

Since reaching 17.3 million overseas arrivals in 2022, there is reason to believe that interest in visiting Ireland for holidaying purposes will only grow, especially as the effects of the pandemic have subsided.

In spite of setbacks from Covid-19 and the dramatic fall in number of arrivals this past year, the natural and cultural appeal of Ireland will continue to impress!

We’ve tried to be as comprehensive as we can with this post. Hopefully, it can help you understand more about tourism in Ireland.

Did we miss any crucial statistics about travel and tourism in Ireland?

Drop us a comment below!

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2024 Reports

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Year End Review 2023 & Outlook 2024

27 December 2023

ITIC’s 2023 Review and 2024 Outlook shows that Irish tourism remains robust despite domestic cost challenges and international geopolitical events. It is estimated that €5.3 billion will have been spent by international visitors while visiting Ireland in 2023 with 254,000 people working in the sector making it the country’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer.

Looking ahead, ITIC forecast that Irish tourism can achieve 5% revenue growth in real terms in 2024 with the North American market offering the best prospects.

VISION 2030: An Irish Tourism Strategy for Growth

18 September 2023

Ireland’s tourism industry can be ambitious about its future whilst delivering on its environmental sustainability obligations. That is the vision outlined in this strategy by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) – by 2030 the industry can be worth €15 billion to the national economy, can employ up to 350,000 people across the country, and will be delivering €3.5 billion tax receipts to the exchequer each year.

This key report recommends 38 actions to maximize potential outcomes.

11,500 hotel bedrooms needed by 2032 to meet projected tourism demand

17 August 2023

A key report by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation estimates that there is a deficit of 11,500 tourism bedrooms in the State if Ireland is to meet projected demand over the next decade.

The report, carried out by economist Jim Power, identifies that the price of sites, allied to construction inflation, make new builds cost-prohibitive apart from selected urban hotspots and Government will have to intervene with a range of policy measures to stimulate developments.

ITIC analysis of CSO’s first Tourism Satellite Account

25 July 2023

The CSO has just released its first Tourism Satellite Account, an internationally recognised framework for measuring tourist activity. It makes for interesting reading and underlines tourism’s importance to the national economy. Using 2019 data – the last year of full data pre-pandemic – the TSA estimated that tourist activity accounts for 4.4% of the economy and employs 13% of the national workforce.

Tourism’s Budget 2024 Submission

13 July 2023

ITIC launches its pre-budget submission and makes the clear case that restoring competitiveness and maintaining investment is vital to enable Ireland’s tourism industry overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth. ITIC argues that 5 key budget decisions should be taken to support the 20,000 businesses within Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The Competitiveness of Irish Tourism – Review & Outlook

23 June 2023

Irish tourism is at a key juncture with demand strong but supply significantly compromised and sustainability at the heart of all considerations. In that context this timely report from the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) looks at the competitiveness of the sector and how worrying signs of erosion need to be addressed.

Competitiveness is critical to the continued recovery and sustained growth of the sector and this important report from ITIC outlines 10 strategic recommendations as to how Irish tourism’s competitiveness can be improved.

Increase in 9% VAT rate would damage jobs and add to inflation

11 January 2023

This report by Economist Jim Power, commissioned by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, finds that the scheduled VAT increase from 9% to 13.5% on February 28th will damage the industry at such an uncertain time. The VAT increase could cost up to 24,000 jobs and add 4.1% inflation to the cost of accommodation and food services.

The report concludes that VAT should be kept at 9% to protect the competitiveness of a vulnerable industry particularly when key source markets are going through economic turbulence.

Irish Tourism: Recovery & Outlook

10 January 2023

What does 2023 hold for Irish tourism in these most volatile of times? And how strong was the recovery in 2022?

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) has done a deep dive into the state of Irish tourism including economic analysis of our key source markets, a review of air and sea access to Ireland, and key challenges that will need to be overcome to ensure sustained recovery is secured.

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Seven million people visited Ireland in 2022

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) has today issued its estimates for the volume of international visitor arrivals in 2022.

ITIC estimate that seven million international tourists came to Ireland this year, a 73 per cent recovery compared to the pre-pandemic peak of 2019.

Mainland Europe was the largest source market with 1.5 million high-spending North Americans also visiting the country. Although 2022 was better than anticipated, there is "significant anxiety about 2023 with cost inflation, a sharp reduction in tourism accommodation supply, and a potential VAT increase all worrying tourism leaders".

Estimates for next year range from a dip on this year’s performance to single digit growth. Air access and demand from key source markets look strong but economic headwinds globally, allied to cost inflation and supply constraints at home, make accurate forecasting challenging. ITIC estimate that a full tourism recovery to 2019 levels is not likely to be achieved until 2026.

Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, chairperson of ITIC, said: “2022 has thankfully been a stronger year than anticipated with pent-up demand, deferred bookings and accumulated savings all boosting business this year. It is vital that the sector returns to sustainable growth."

Economist Jim Power recently completed a report for ITIC into the economic rationale for retaining the 9 per cent VAT rate in lieu of the Government’s current plan to reinstate the 13.5 per cent from March 1st, 2023.

He estimated that the increase in VAT would add 4.1 per cent inflation to accommodation and food services and cost 24,000 jobs.

“Hopefully Minister McGrath heeds these warnings and quickly gives the industry certainty about the 9 per cent VAT rate going forward," said Ms Fitzgerald Kane.

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Tourism in Ireland

Development of the tourism sector in ireland from 1995 to 2019.

Revenues from tourism

All data for Ireland in detail

Ireland Tourist Arrivals

Tourist arrivals in ireland decreased to 1302.50 thousand in january from 1433.60 thousand in december of 2023. tourist arrivals in ireland averaged 1223.85 thousand from 1985 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 2645.00 thousand in september of 2007 and a record low of 16.10 thousand in april of 2020. source: central statistics office, ireland,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   housing,   taxes,   health,   climate.

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• Number of overseas tourist visits in Ireland 2019, by region

Number of overseas tourist visits in Ireland in 2019, by region of destination (in 1,000s)

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• Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Ireland 2019-2022
• Number of domestic tourist trips in Ireland 2012-2022
• Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Ireland 2019-2022

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• Most visited paid tourist attractions in Ireland 2021, by attendance

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Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Ireland "

• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Ireland 2019-2022, by type
• Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Ireland 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2019
• Average daily expenditure on tourism in Ireland 2019, by tourist type
• Industry revenue of “travel agency, tour operator, reservation service“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism revenue in Ireland 2020
• Estimated impact of COVID-19 on tourism revenue in Ireland 2020, by sector
• Estimated number of tourism jobs lost due to COVID-19 in Ireland 2020, by sector
• International tourism receipts in Ireland 2011-2022
• Number of overseas travel arrivals in Ireland 2019-2021, by mode
• Number of inbound tourist visits to Ireland 2012-2019
• Number of inbound tourists in Ireland 2018-2019, by country
• Inbound tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2019
• Overseas vacationers in Ireland 2019, by age
• Share of overseas tourists in Ireland in 2019, by month of arrival
• Domestic tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2022
• Number of outbound tourist trips from Ireland 2013-2022
• Outbound tourism expenditure in Ireland 2013-2022
• Share of people intending to travel in Ireland April 2021, by destination and period
• Industry revenue of “accommodation and food service activities“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Industry revenue of “accommodation“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Industry revenue of “hotels and similar accommodation“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Number of travel accommodation establishments in Ireland 2011-2021
• Number of rooms in accommodation premises in Ireland in 2019, by type
• Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Ireland 2006-2019
• Number of hotel rooms in Ireland 2010-2021
• Hotel bedroom occupancy rates in Ireland 2012-2019
• Number of overseas travelers engaging in outdoor activities in Ireland 2019
• Preferred activities by domestic vacationers in Ireland 2019
• Most visited free tourist attractions in Ireland 2021, by attendance

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• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Ireland 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Ireland 2019-2022, by type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Ireland 2019-2022, by tourist type
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• Premium Statistic Average daily expenditure on tourism in Ireland 2019, by tourist type
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COVID-19 impact

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• Premium Statistic Estimated number of tourism jobs lost due to COVID-19 in Ireland 2020, by sector
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Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of overseas travel arrivals in Ireland 2019-2021, by mode
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourist visits to Ireland 2012-2019
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourists in Ireland 2018-2019, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of overseas tourist visits in Ireland 2019, by region
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2019
• Premium Statistic Overseas vacationers in Ireland 2019, by age
• Premium Statistic Share of overseas tourists in Ireland in 2019, by month of arrival

Domestic and outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic tourist trips in Ireland 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourist trips from Ireland 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism expenditure in Ireland 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of people intending to travel in Ireland April 2021, by destination and period

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Industry revenue of “accommodation and food service activities“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Premium Statistic Industry revenue of “accommodation“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Premium Statistic Industry revenue of “hotels and similar accommodation“ in Ireland 2012-2025
• Basic Statistic Number of travel accommodation establishments in Ireland 2011-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of rooms in accommodation premises in Ireland in 2019, by type
• Basic Statistic Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Ireland 2006-2019
• Basic Statistic Number of hotel rooms in Ireland 2010-2021
• Basic Statistic Hotel bedroom occupancy rates in Ireland 2012-2019

Tourist activities and visitor attractions

• Premium Statistic Number of overseas travelers engaging in outdoor activities in Ireland 2019
• Premium Statistic Preferred activities by domestic vacationers in Ireland 2019
• Premium Statistic Most visited free tourist attractions in Ireland 2021, by attendance
• Premium Statistic Most visited paid tourist attractions in Ireland 2021, by attendance

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Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2021: Part 3 Travel, Agriculture, Environment and COVID-19

This chapter presents information on the tourism sector of the Irish economy. The tourism and travel information covers travel into and out of the Republic of Ireland as well as domestic trips.

Overseas Arrivals and Departures by Mode and Routing Country, 2016-2020

During the year 2020, 4.5 million overseas passengers arrived in Ireland and 4.5 million overseas passengers departed. These represent decreases of 77.9% and 78.0% respectively compared to 2019 when over 20 million passengers both arrived and departed.

The most important staging countries for persons travelling overseas to Ireland in 2020 were Great Britain (1,808,700), Spain (412,600) and United States (280,200). The most important staging countries for persons travelling overseas from Ireland were Great Britain (1,855,000), Spain (392,700) and United States (267,700).

Visit tables ASM01, ASM02, ASM03 on PxStat

Link to releases:  Air and Sea Travel Statistics

Air and Sea Arrivals 2020, by Country

Overseas arrivals by year, month and routing country, 2019-2021.

View tables ASM01, ASM02, ASM03 on PxStat

Overseas Departures by Year, Month and Routing Country, 2019-2021

Link to releases:  Air and Sea Travel Statistics 

Domestic travel by Irish Residents by Reason for Journey

Irish residents took more than 5.3 million domestic trips in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, a decrease of 18.6% when compared with the same period in 2019. These trips resulted in just over 18 million bed nights, which was the same amount as in the second half of 2019. Total expenditure on domestic trips in Q3 and Q4 2020 amounted to €1,167 million. Those on holidays accounted for €916 million of this, while those visiting friends or relatives spent €168 million.  When compared with the same period in 2019, expenditure on holidays was up 11.5%, while spending on trips to visit friends or relatives was down by a quarter (-24.9%).

Due to the impact of COVID-19, overseas trip data from Q2 2020 is currently unavailable along with Q2 2020 domestic trip data. Therefore no annual results for 2020 are available at this time.

View tables HTA01 on PxStat   View tables HTQ01 on PxStat

Link to release:  Household Travel Survey

Domestic travel by Irish Residents by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2019 - Q4 2020

Link to release:  Household Travel Survey 

Go to next chapter  Transport

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Northern Ireland enjoys record breaking tourist numbers

• Tuesday 14 February 2023 at 8:17pm

Marc Mallett

Reporter, UTV News

Tourism NI says more people from the Republic of Ireland are coming north for day trips and overnight breaks than ever before. They're also spending more too.

The Republic’s Central Statistics Office estimates 809,172 trips were made to Northern Ireland in the first 9 months of 2022. Up from 530,309 - that's a 52.6% increase on the same pre-Covid period in 2019.

And it's not just day trippers helping boost numbers - the figures, which cover the peak summer months, show a significant increase in the number of overnight stays with 1,942,779 nights from Jan-Sept 2022. Up by 46.4% compared to the same period in 2019.

As a result the economy benefitted from a spend of £164m over the nine months. That's £66.5m more than in 2019 - a massive increase of 68.3% on 2019, when visitors spent around £97.5m.

Tourism NI Chief Executive, John McGrillen, says "what we're seeing is a huge uplift in the numbers of people who have been coming over the last six, seven years. So we're delighted with what we're seeing and the results coming through".

While Tourism NI's high profile 'Embrace a Giant Spirit' charm offensive in the Republic has helped promote our world class and world renowned tourist attractions, John McGrillen believes the people in NI are key to the success of the tourism offering.

"Well the 'Embrace a Giant Spirit' is really about the people and that's what that brand is all about. It's about getting the message across that Northern Ireland is a very warm and a very welcoming place and sometimes that's not the perception that people have of the place," he explained.

"What we find is when people leave that they tell us that their experience has been much better than they anticipated. And 70% of businesses the Republic of Ireland say that they will be back."

So how will 2023 measure up against 2022? Well we know it won't be without its challenges. After all, being a tourist costs money and we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

“Looking ahead we are optimistic for 2023. Visitors to Northern Ireland have more to look forward to including the multi-million pound upgrade of Titanic Belfast, screen tourism attractions including the Game of Thrones Studio tour and a growing number of Derry Girls experiences, a burgeoning food and drink offering and festivals and events that are special to Northern Ireland" says John McGrillen.

And at least we don't have to impress our Southern visitors with the weather!

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Visitor numbers to attractions dashboard.

24 March 2022

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Research & Insights

Visitor Attractions

The latest annual visitor attraction statistics, published by the northern ireland statistics and research agency (nisra) on 20th july 2023, give an overview of the performance of the visitor attraction market in northern ireland during 2022..

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Northern Ireland Annual Tourism Statistics 2020

A range of tourism statistics for Northern Ireland: January – December 2020

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/annual-tourism-statistics-publications

The statistics will include information from a range of sources related to tourism including information on overnight trips, rooms sold in commercial accommodation, visitor attractions and cruise ship visits.

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Kenya to host over 3,000 at annual magical travel expo, the regional tourism fair is scheduled to run between october 2-4 at the uhuru gardens , nairobi..

• Last year, about 2,500 tourism business people participated in the 3-day long fair.
• Kenya's 2023 tourism arrivals grew by more than 460,000 in the period to December.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) targets a 20 per cent growth in the number of delegates set to participate in the 13th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE).

The regional tourism fair, scheduled to run between October 2-4 at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi, is expected to bring together about 3,000 participants including tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents and travel trade visitors.

Last year, about 2,500 tourism business people participated in the 3-day long fair that is increasingly gaining popularity as a premier regional travel show with KTB seeking to position the expo for bigger global involvement.

The 13th edition of the expo is part of the destination repositioning activities geared towards the attainment of the targeted number of three million visitors to the country by the close of the year.

KTB chief executive officer June Chepkemei has expressed optimism that the expo will go a long way in repositioning Kenya for tourism business not only within the continent but globally.

For the past 12 years, MKTE has been the premier business-to-business tourism platform for the region bringing together all tourism players for insightful business transactions.

"This continues to be a trademark of the expo even as we work to maintain Pan African travel trade participation and cement Kenya's position as a leading tourism destination,” Chepkemei said.

The travel fair is coming at a time when Kenya is setting eyes on the African market that has shown resilience and steady growth in the highly competitive and fragile tourism industry.

According to last year’s tourism sector performance, Africa closed at about 0.8 million visitors to Kenya representing a 41 per cent market share of total international arrivals into the country.

The Europe market reported a 30 per cent market share with 0.6 million arrivals in Kenya while the Americas market posted a 17 per cent market share with about 0.3 million visitors to Kenya.

MKTE is highly structured for business, bringing in about 160 carefully selected and vetted buyers from Kenya’s key source markets in Europe, the US, Asia, and Africa.

The expo has also been instrumental in allowing over 60 per cent of local small and medium travel enterprises and startups to access international markets and build linkages.

Kenya's 2023 tourism arrivals grew by more than 460,000 in the period to December, marking the third consecutive growth since 2021 when the numbers started rising.

The annual tourism sector performance report shows arrivals rose from 1,483,752 in 2022 to 1,951,185 in 2023, a 31.5 percent increase.

This is however way less compared to the previous year (2021-2022) when the numbers grew by about 71 per cent.

August recorded the highest number of visitors at 11 per cent of the total arrivals, attributed to the wildebeest migration experience in Maasai Mara around late July to August.

The growth is attributed to the good value for money perception by tourists, implying their belief that the country offers quality experiences, services and attractions relative to the cost of their travel.

Tourist arrivals from South Africa up 38% on visa free plan

June chepkemei named kenya tourism board ceo, ktb banks on west africa to grow tourist numbers, most popular, iconic hilton hotel to shut down after 53 years operation, latest videos, state sets up multi agency emergency response centre on floods, ruto chairs emergency multi agency response team on floods, sign up for the free star email newsletter and receive the latest kenya news daily..

Money latest: Morrisons shoppers are going to notice two changes in stores

Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers – with stores offering travel money and trolleys now featuring advertisements. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the box.

Thursday 25 April 2024 19:51, UK

• Halifax hikes mortgage rates - as entire market moves upwards
• Renters' Reform Bill signed off - but with indefinite delay to no-fault evictions ban
• Morrisons rolls out bureau de change and trolley adverts

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• The world of dark tourism - what is it, is it ethical, and where can you go?
• Money Problem : I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?
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• Cheap Eats : Michelin chef's secret lasagne tip - and expensive ingredient you shouldn't use

Ask a question or make a comment

Halifax has become the latest major lender to up mortgage rates.

They are putting up a range of deals by 0.2%.

BM Solutions also announced increases today.

It follows similar moves by TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry last week.

Lenders are responding to swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - rising on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

This is what average mortgage rates look like as of today...

Justin Moy, managing director of EHF Mortgages, told Newspage: "Yet more bad news for mortgage borrowers, as two of the biggest lenders announce increases to their fixed-rate products. 

"As mortgage rates creep up and past 5% even for those with the largest deposits, we seem to be lacking a clear strategy of the government or the Bank of England on how rates will eventually fall. 

"Even 2% inflation may not be enough to reverse the recent trends in rates."

Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers – with stores now offering travel money and trolleys featuring advertisements.

Announcing their bureau de change service, Morrisons said customers could exchange currencies in select stores or could place their money orders online at Morrisonstravelmoney.com.

Using the online service means customers can either click and collect their cash in certain Morrisons stores or at any of Eurochange's 240 branches. Alternatively, they can go for home delivery.

Services director at Morrisons, Jamie Winter, said the service "will provide our customers with easy access to a wide range of currencies at competitive exchange rates".

So far, stores in the following areas have travel money kiosks:

• Basingstoke

In other news, the supermarket chain rolled out a new trolley advertising across 300 stores in a partnership with Retail Media Group.

A sweetener used in drinks, sauces, savoury and sweet foods and chewing gum can cause serious damage to people's health, according to a new study.

Neotame, a "relatively new" sweetener, could damage the intestine by causing damage to healthy bacteria in the gut, according to the study, leading it to become diseased and attack the gut wall.

The study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found the negative effect of neotame "has the potential to influence a range of gut functions resulting in poor gut health", potentially impacting metabolic and inflammatory diseases, neuropathic pain, and neurological conditions.

The illnesses this could lead to include irritable bowel disease or insulin resistance.

Read the full story here ...

As we reported yesterday, a pilot programme is coming into force in Venice today that means visitors have to pay a €5 (£4.28) charge to enter the city.

Authorities say the pilot programme is designed to discourage tourists and thin the crowds that throng the canals during peak holiday season, making the city more liveable for residents.

Pictures have been emerging this morning of people queueing to register for a QR code that will allow them to enter after they have paid the charge - and officials carrying out checks on people inside the city.

People found to be contravening the rules can be fined up to €300 (£257).

As detailed in our story , the move has been met with anger among some in the city.

Venice is the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists - but comments from its most senior tourist official suggested it may become a more common practice for major tourist hotspots in Europe.

Simone Venturini revealed the pilot programme was being closely watched by other places suffering from mass tourism - including other Italian art cities and hugely popular weekend-break destinations Barcelona and Amsterdam.

More than 160,000 people switched to Nationwide from other providers at the end of 2023, when the building society was offering a huge cash switching incentive.

According to figures from the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), Nationwide had a net gain of 163,363 account switchers between October and December, after leavers were taken into account.

It was the highest quarterly gain since the same period in 2022, when 111,941 switched to Nationwide.

The building society launched a £200 switching bonus for new joiners in September last year - the biggest giveaway on offer at the time. It withdrew the offer just before Christmas.

The latest CASS figures, which show Nationwide had 196,260 total gains before accounting for leavers, suggesting it could have spent up to £39m on nabbing customers from other providers in the last three months of the year.

Barclays and Lloyds Bank saw more modest net gains of 12,823 and 5,800 respectively, while the rest of the UK's big banks reported net losses.

NatWest and Halifax fared worst, losing over 40,000 more switchers each than they gained.

This week saw the last remaining switching offer on the market withdrawn.

Sainsbury's is having technical issues again - with shoppers taking to social media to say their deliveries have been delayed or cancelled.

The supermarket has been replying to customers saying: "I'm really sorry about the tech issues this morning. 

"We're aware of the situation and are working to sort it as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we'd advise you place a new order for a future date."

Customer Andrew Savage wrote: "Order has not been delivered and no confirmation email this morning."

Another, John B Sheffield, said: "So angry! Just got through to your customer line after 40 min WAIT. 

"Tells me NO DELIVERIES TODAY! tech problem? I've NO FOOD IN! ANGRY!"

In a statement to Sky News, a Sainsbury's spokesperson says: "A small technical issue affected some groceries online orders this morning. 

"We have contacted these customers directly to apologise for the inconvenience." 

In another update at 10am, the supermarket said that the issue has been resolved. 

Responding to customers on X, Sainsbury's also offered those affected e-vouchers and details on how to rebook their orders.

It comes a month after the supermarket had to cancel almost all deliveries on a Saturday in mid-March due to another technical issue.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

A potential $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover of UK-based mining company  Anglo American  has sent its shares soaring - and helped the FTSE 100 hit yet another record high this morning.

The attempted mega-merger, by larger Australian rival BHP, is currently being reviewed by Anglo American's board.

The deal, if it goes through, would create the world's biggest copper mining company - and comes as the price of the metal continues to climb amid soaring demand.

Anglo American's shares have surged as high as 13% this morning as news of the negotiations emerged.

The announcement also helped spur the FTSE 100 to a new intraday (during the day) high of 8,098 points.

The index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, has hit a string of records this week, including  an all-time closing high of 8,044 points  on Tuesday.

The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Also moving the markets are a string of company results which were published earlier on Thursday.

Among those issuing updates to investors was drugsmaker AstraZeneca. Its stock is up more than 5% after the firm reported quarterly profit and revenue above market estimates.

Unilever is also up 5% following similar better-than-expected quarterly figures.

Another good performer is  Barclays  - despite reporting a 12% fall in profits for the first three months of 2024. Its shares are up more than 4%.

That's because its quarterly figures are slightly better than expected, and the bank has said it expects its fortunes to improve later this year.

Meanwhile, as tensions in the Middle East continue, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil continues to hover at a price of around $88 (£70).

This morning £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, similar to yesterday.

Every week we get experts to answer your Money Problems - usually on a Monday, but today we have a short, bonus addition in light of multiple lenders raising mortgage rates this week on fears an interest rate cut could be delayed to a little later this year (note: many economists still think it will come in summer).

A few readers have got in touch with questions similar to this one...

My remortgage is due to complete on 1 May. I already have an offer but with rates going up, is there any way at all my offer rate could increase? Saz681

We asked David Hollingworth, director at L&C Mortgages, to answer this one...

It's great news that you are already set up with a mortgage offer, Saz - ready to make a smooth switch to a new deal and/or lender, once the current one ends.  

It does take time to set up a new mortgage so shopping around the market a good few months ahead will help you put everything in place and avoid slipping onto a high variable rate.

Fixed rates have been nudging up slightly but you have already got a formal offer in place so shouldn't worry.  

Applying for a mortgage will generally secure that rate and the lender will then carry out any further checks to issue the mortgage offer.  

The offer will be valid for a specified period, often for up to six months. Rates are always shifting for new customers but you can rest easy that your rate should be safe and sound for your switch in May.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and where in the country you are, by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog". Alternatively, WhatsApp us  here .

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Interest in a phenomenon known as "dark tourism" has been steadily rising in recent years - but what is it?

To find out, we've spoken with tourism academic  Dr Hayley Stainton  and renowned dark tourist and author Dr Peter Hohenhaus, who runs a  dark tourism website .

What is it?

In general, dark tourism involves travelling to sites connected to death or disaster.

"Dark tourism has been around for as long as we have been travelling to places associated with death," Dr Stainton says. 

However, the term wasn't officially coined until 1996 by John Lennon, a professor of tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, in Scotland.

"Not everyone is familiar with the term," says Dr Stainton, "[but] many people have been a dark tourist at some time or another, whether intentional or not."

Some examples of the most famous sites

• Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, US
• Chernobyl, Ukraine 
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
• Choeung Ek "killing fields" and the Tuol Sleng genocide museum at the former S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

Areas with a degree of infamy, like Alcatraz, are extremely popular spots that also fall under the "dark tourism" umbrella. 

How popular is it?

Dr Hohenhaus and Dr Stainton say they have noticed a rise in its popularity. 

"Tourists are looking for more unique and unusual experiences," Dr Stainton says. 

"This has seen a move away from the more traditional 'sun, sea and sand' type holidays to a variety of different tourism forms, which includes dark tourism."

Dr Hohenhaus adds: "Maybe people want to connect to more recent and hence more personally relevant history - that is definitely the case with myself."

He goes on: "I think I've learned more about the world through dark tourism than through all of my formal education or my previous academic career."

Is it ethical?

This is the big question associated with dark tourism. 

Dr Stainton says that while problems do arise, the stigma around the practice is often misguided. 

"People don't visit sites like the killing fields in Cambodia or the site of Chernobyl for 'fun' - they visit for the educational experience, as dark tourism is often also a form of educational tourism," she says.

Problems arise when tourists are not respectful to those who may have been impacted.

"For instance, taking inappropriate photos or laughing and joking when others may be in a state of mourning."

Notorious examples include people taking selfies outside Grenfell Tower and at Auschwitz. 

"It is therefore imperative that dark tourists are considerate of those around them and respectful at all times," Dr Stainton says.

"As long as you are not just after a cheap sensationalist thrill - take dark tourism seriously and do it right, and it can be an immensely enriching thing to engage in."  Dr Hohenhaus

Where could you go? 

These are Dr Hohenhaus' recommendations:

• Ijen crater in Indonesia - where at night you can see the fabled blue flames of the sulphur mines next to the volcano crater lake;
• The Polygon, the former Semipalatinsk nuclear weapons test site of the USSR, now in Kazakhstan;
• The Goli Otok former prison island off the coast of Croatia;
• The Murambi memorial to the Rwandan genocide - which Dr Hohenhaus says is "certainly the very darkest place I have ever been";
• Majdanek concentration camp memorial near Lublin, eastern Poland.

What do you think of dark tourism? Is it misunderstood, educational or abhorrent?  Let us know in the comments section...

John Lewis will be sharing its job interview questions online in an attempt to find the "best talent".

The retail chain hopes that allowing candidates to view questions before an interview will allow prospective employees to "really demonstrate what they can do" and prepare, the Financial Times reports.

John Lewis talent acquisition lead Lorna Bullett told Sky News that interviews can feel daunting and "nerves can seriously impact performance".

She added the company want "the right people" from a variety of backgrounds and with "the best talent" to join.

"It makes absolute business sense to find ways of helping candidates to really demonstrate what they can do," she said.

Ms Bullett added that the process will be "no less rigorous".

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