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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!

And here are some other statistics you might enjoy...

• Digital Nomad Statistics
• Female Travel Statistics
• RV Industry Statistics
• TourismIreland 1
• TourismIreland 2
• TourismIreland 3
• TourismIreland 4
• FailteIreland
• Central Statistics Office

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5 million people can't be wrong

Dublin has one of the highest tourist-to-local ratios in the world

The capital ranked fifth in the list of 100 popular world cities, ahead of Sydney, New York, London and even Paris

• 18:57, 5 DEC 2019
• Updated 21:37, 5 DEC 2019

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Dublin has one of the highest ratios of tourists to locals in the world - pipping New York, London and even Paris for visitor-to-resident numbers.

There are a staggering 427 tourists for every 100 hundred locals in the capital, new research by leading visa waiver processors Official ESTA shows.

Dublin comes in fifth overall, only behind US cities Miami and Las Vegas, the Emirate city of Dubai and Scotland's popular capital Edinburgh.

The extensive study looked at 54 of the world's most popular cities to visit as listed by Time Out, including tourism hotspots such as Sydney, New York, Toronto, London, Barcelona and Cancun.

Then using official international tourist arrivals from 2018, analysts cross-checked those figures against each destination's population to reveal which destinations have the most tourists in comparison to locals.

• Miami ranks in first place with 1,641 tourists per every 100 locals
• Las Vegas follows behind in second place with 993 tourists per 100 locals 
• Dubai came in third with 588 tourists for every 100 locals
• Edinburgh was just ahead of Dublin with 445 tourists per 100 locals
• Hong Kong was just behind the Irish capital with 398 visitors per 100 locals
• Sao Paulo in Brazil was at the bottom of the pile with just 10 tourists per 100 natives
• Mexico City has just 11 tourists per 100 locals
• Beijing has 19 tourists for per 100 locals

Jayne Forrester of Official ESTA said of the findings: "Booking a trip away to visit a new city or destination is always fun - the hustle and bustle of everyday life, experiencing new cultures and visiting tourist attractions are just a couple of reasons why people jump on a plane and pay hundreds and thousands to visit cities such as New York and Dubai. 

"People expect busyness in New York - it’s the city that never sleeps, but not everyone wants to feel rushed off their feet on holiday.

"Mexico City is still just as popular but has just 10 tourists for every 100 locals, so tourists won’t feel as overwhelmed when visiting there and can take their surroundings in.  

"Visiting a city that is really busy can sometimes take away the exciting experience of being on holiday because you spend half of your time trying to battle crowds to see attractions or visit popular restaurants - so if you’re looking for something a little more relaxed why not try out some of the less busy, but equally as popular and exciting cities that feature in the study, like Seattle, that has just 95 tourists to every 100 locals.”

The full results from the analysis can be viewed here .

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40+ Dublin Tourism Statistics, Numbers and Trends

Updated on May 27, 2022 by Axel Hernborg

The tourism sector is becoming a more and more integral part of the Irish economy and lifestyle. Over a third of the population of Ireland call Dublin home. It’s the biggest city in the country and its outstanding colleges and universities attract students from all over the world. The city’s young-at-heart character and friendly locals make it the ideal choice for long vacations or short city breaks.

Dublin is famous for its connections to some of the world’s most important writers and poets. James Joyce set his landmark novel, Ulysses, in the city and some of the heavyweights who have called Dublin home include Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and Jonathon Swift.

Compiled some of the most interesting statistics about travel and tourism in Dublin.

Table of contents

• 1 INDUSTRY TRENDS
• 2 HABITS & MOTIVES
• 3 DEMOGRAPHY
• 4 OTHER TRENDS
• 5 REFERENCES

INDUSTRY TRENDS

• Dublin generates more than half of the State’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the tourism and travel sector and is highly reliant on international visitors.
• The most popular city in Ireland for international travelers is Dublin.
• Each year about €5bn in revenue is made from economic activities directly related to tourists, accounting for about 4% of  GNP  and employing over 200,000 people.
• Mainland Europe accounts for 37.3% of our overseas tourists and is not our single largest source market, Britain remains the largest single market accounting for 36% of holidaymakers.
• Every €1m of tourist expenditure helps to support 27 tourism jobs.
• For every euro spent on tourism (domestic and overseas), 23c is generated in tax.
• Dublin is already home to the world’s first ISO 14001 certified carbon neutral convention centre and has been awarded the Green Tourism and Entertainment Award. 
• Dublin’s accessibility to all major European cities, its well-developed MICE infrastructure, and its young and cosmopolitan identity make it a destination of choice for business tourism.
• The impact of the pandemic in Dublin was greater than the national average.
• Dublin has been named the seventh-best city in the world to visit in 2022 by Lonely Planet . 
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral  – The most sought-after attraction in Dublin One of the most scenic spots to visit also happens to be a highly rated monument in Dublin. 
• Aside from the usual Dublin tours and attractions, there are also interesting and unusual tours in the city. Dublin tours include jail tours, ghost tours, grave tours, and singing tours. There are also several day trips from Dublin that visitors can do.

HABITS & MOTIVES

• The average length of stay for an overseas tourist was 7.3 nights and holidaymaker was 6.2 nights
• Half of all visitors to the island of Ireland in 2019 came for a holiday, that is +34,000 (+1%) more holidaymakers than in 2018. One-third came to visit friends and/or relatives (VFR) (while one-seventh (14%) came for business reasons.
• The average spend by an overseas tourist and holidaymaker was €518/£451 and €598/£520 respectively.
• Europeans spend their money in these proportions: 34% on food and drink, 32% on bed and board, 16% on shopping, 8% on internal transport, and 4% on sightseeing and entertainment.
• North Americans spend their money in these proportions: 31% on food and drink, 28% for bed and board, 18% for shopping, 10% for internal transport, and 6% for sightseeing and entertainment.
• Hiking and Hillwalking, Golf, Angling, Cycling, and Equestrian Sports are tourists’ favorite outdoor activities in Dublin.
• Event visitors, coming to Dublin specifically to attend an event or festival, whether sporting, cultural, business or any other type of even
• More than half (54%) of all holidaymakers are 35 years of age or older, though this differs by market area with older holidaymakers from Other Areas (62% over 35 years) and younger holidaymakers from Mainland Europe (47% are under 35 years).

OTHER TRENDS

• Ireland recorded a total of 11 million tourists in 2019, ranking 23rd in the world in absolute terms. 
• Though leisure is not necessary for every tourist, recreational activity is something wanted by a lot of people.
• The tourism industry in Ireland has seen significant growth over the last decade. Valued at over €9bn, it is a critical sector for our economy, supporting one in ten jobs within the country.
• Dublin is a relatively young and dynamic city with 50% of its population under the age of 25 and an equally young tourist population, the city of a thousand and one colorful doors is a popular destination for young tourists.
• Britain, the US, Germany, and France remain the island of Ireland’s top four inbound markets. They account for 69% of visitors, 68% of holidaymakers and holiday revenue, 65% of revenue, and 59% of nights.
• The Dublin hotel market saw an increase of over 1,100 new bedrooms, a 5.7% increase in room capacity, in 2018. This marked the largest annual increase in supply in Dublin in over 10 years. 
• The city is taking part in a campaign developed by Fáilte Ireland called “Keep discovering” which aims to encourage the Irish to discover or rediscover their own territory.
• The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation’s outlook is that by 2025 overseas tourists will return to pre-pandemic levels and domestic tourism is expected to be well ahead of pre-pandemic levels by then.
• Overseas visitor numbers to Ireland reached a record high of 10.6m trips in 2018 – the eighth consecutive year of growth and above the previous high of 8m in 2007.
• In 2018, there were 820 registered hotels (58,757 rooms) in Ireland, with 33% of rooms located in Dublin. 
• Tourism targets have been set to grow tourism in the Dublin region by 2028, to include an additional three million visitors to Dublin annually generating €1.3 billion in revenue and supporting 30,000 additional jobs
• Tourism Ireland is the organization responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination.
• Favorite activities of tourists in Ireland include Hiking and Hillwalking, Golf, Angling, Cycling, and Equestrian Sports
• Ireland as a country currently holds a ratio of two overseas tourists for every resident.
• Dublin remains a medium-priced city destination by European standards with lower ADR than cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Rome.
• The busiest month for tourism in Dublin, Ireland is January, followed by July and February. Prices for hotels and flights are most expensive during these months.
• Tourism Ireland recently launched its new ‘Green Button’ global campaign, to re-start tourism and encourage as many overseas visitors as possible to book Ireland for their next short break or holiday.
• Dublin Airport is the busiest airport in Ireland. The majority of the tourists pass through Dublin Airport before transferring to another city.
• The number of domestic tourist trips in Ireland decreased in 2021 over the previous year, after falling sharply in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, domestic travelers made roughly 5.7 million journeys in Ireland in 2021, while they took around 11.6 million trips in 2019.
• Half of the total domestic trips made to Ireland in 2019 were for holidaying purposes.

https://www.dublineconomy.ie/insights/strong-dublin-tourism-recovery-expected-from-2020-17216/

https://www.crowe.com/ie/insights/tourism-and-hospitality-market-report-ireland

https://www.tourismireland.com/TourismIreland/media/Tourism-Ireland/Research/TI_FactsandFigures_2019.pdf?ext=.pdf

https://www.tripsavvy.com/who-visits-ireland-1542797

https://irelandtravelguides.com/visit-dublin-travel-tips/

Hello! I am Axel, tripplo.com’s travel savings, deals and discounts expert and founder. I have been in the travel deals and discounts industry for almost a decade now. It’s me who publish and update most of the content and discounts on tripplo.com! I also have a podcast in which I share valuable information about how to get the best travel deals and discounts.

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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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Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2020

This chapter presents information on the tourism sector of the Irish economy. The tourism and travel information covers earnings and expenditure from tourism and travel as well as detailing the number of trips to Ireland classified by area of residence and reason for journey. Details of foreign and domestic travel by Irish residents classified by region visited and reason for journey are also included.

Overseas trips to Ireland by non-residents by area of residence

In 2019, 10.8 million overseas trips were made by non-residents to Ireland compared to 10.6 million trips in 2018, an increase of 1.8%. Trips by residents of USA and Canada to Ireland increased by 1.2% to over 2.4 million trips between 2018 and 2019. The average length of stay in Ireland by all overseas travellers decreased to 6.5 nights in 2019 compared to 6.7 in 2018. The most important overseas markets in terms of non-fare expenditure within Ireland in 2019 were USA and Canada (33.2%) and Great Britain (19.1%).

Interactive table:  StatBank TMA09

Link to releases:  Tourism and Travel Quarterly  and  Overseas Travel Monthly

Overseas trips to Ireland by non-residents by reason for journey

The number of overseas trips to Ireland, for the purpose of business, increased by 53,000 trips to just under 1.5 million trips between 2018 and 2019, a rise of 3.7%. However, over the same period, the number of holiday/leisure/recreation trips to Ireland dropped by 19,000 trips to just over 5.2 million trips.

Excluding fares, expenditure by overseas travellers decreased by 0.9% in 2019, from €5,149 million in 2018 to €5,101 million. Of this €5,101 million, 60.3% was spent by overseas travellers for holiday/leisure/recreation purposes, 17.8% by those travelling to visit friends and relatives, 14.1% by business travellers and the remaining 7.8% by those travelling for ‘Other’ reasons.

Interactive table:  StatBank TMA08

Link to releases: Tourism and Travel Quarterly  and  Overseas Travel Monthly

Outbound travel by Irish residents by region visited

Almost 9.4 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in 2019. The average length of stay on outbound trips was 7.2 nights, varying from 6.2 nights within the European Union, 13.6 nights in USA and Canada and 20.8 nights in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. Total expenditure by Irish residents on outbound trips amounted to just under €8,253 million during 2019, of which two thirds (66.7%) was spent within the European Union.

Interactive table:  StatBank HTA12  

Link to release:  Household Travel Survey

Domestic travel by Irish residents by reason for journey

Irish residents took more than 11.6 million domestic trips in 2019. The average length of stay for domestic trips was 2.5 nights, resulting in a total of 29.5 million bed nights. Holidays accounted for half of all domestic trips (50.1%), while more than 3.8 million trips (33.1%) were to visit friends or relatives. Total expenditure by Irish residents on domestic trips for 2019 amounted to €2,147 million. Holidays accounted for  €1,336 million of this, which was an increase of 8.4% compared with 2018.

Interactive table:  StatBank HTA01

Go to next chapter >>> Transport

• Tourism, Transport & Travel
• Appendix 1 - Northern Ireland
• Appendix 2 - Methodology
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24 March 2022

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

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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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Other statistics on the topic

• 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

Other statistics that may interest you Travel and tourism in Ireland

• 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
• Premium Statistic Tourism spending in Ireland 2012-2019
• Premium Statistic Average daily expenditure on tourism in Ireland 2019, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Ireland 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Industry revenue of “travel agency, tour operator, reservation service“ in Ireland 2012-2025

COVID-19 impact

• Premium Statistic Estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism revenue in Ireland 2020
• Premium Statistic Estimated impact of COVID-19 on tourism revenue in Ireland 2020, by sector
• Premium Statistic Estimated number of tourism jobs lost due to COVID-19 in Ireland 2020, by sector
• Premium Statistic International tourism receipts in Ireland 2011-2022

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

Further related statistics

• Premium Statistic Number of nights spent by overseas tourists in Ireland in 2018, by region
• Premium Statistic Number of overseas holiday visitors in Ireland in 2019, by region
• Premium Statistic Domestic business trips in Ireland 2012-2017
• Premium Statistic Domestic business trip spend in Ireland 2012-2017
• Premium Statistic Number of overseas holidaymakers visiting Ireland 2010-2019
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in the Bahamas 2010-2021, type
• Premium Statistic Nationality of visitors to Gibraltar in 2018
• Premium Statistic Average length of stay of international overnight tourists in China 2012, by origin
• Premium Statistic Overseas tourist revenue in Ireland in 2017, by region visited
• Premium Statistic Share of leisure visitor arrivals from China to Australia by age group 2012-2016
• Premium Statistic Number of German, British and French tourists in Spain 2000-2020
• Premium Statistic Fastest growing tourist markets to Prague 2019, based on visitor growth
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound visitors in Turkey 2006-2023
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in the Dominican Republic 2010-2022, by transport mode
• Basic Statistic Budapest share of inbound tourist visits to Hungary 2022, by country of origin
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Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

• Number of nights spent by overseas tourists in Ireland in 2018, by region
• Number of overseas holiday visitors in Ireland in 2019, by region
• Domestic business trips in Ireland 2012-2017
• Domestic business trip spend in Ireland 2012-2017
• Number of overseas holidaymakers visiting Ireland 2010-2019
• Inbound tourism volume in the Bahamas 2010-2021, type
• Nationality of visitors to Gibraltar in 2018
• Average length of stay of international overnight tourists in China 2012, by origin
• Overseas tourist revenue in Ireland in 2017, by region visited
• Share of leisure visitor arrivals from China to Australia by age group 2012-2016
• Number of German, British and French tourists in Spain 2000-2020
• Fastest growing tourist markets to Prague 2019, based on visitor growth
• Number of inbound visitors in Turkey 2006-2023
• Inbound tourism volume in the Dominican Republic 2010-2022, by transport mode
• Budapest share of inbound tourist visits to Hungary 2022, by country of origin
• Mexico: average stay of international visitors in Quintana Roo 2010-2017

Dublin Economic Monitor

The Dublin City Region plays a pivitol role in the economy of Ireland. The Dublin Economic Monitor tracks the capital’s performance quarterly to provide insightful data.

Latest Insights

Dublin business activity shows solid increase in Q1 2024

Video: Launch of the March 2024 Issue of the Dublin Economic Monitor

Opportunity Beckons But Plenty of Challenges for Dublin’s Tourism Industry

Latest monitor march 2024.

Latest Dublin Economic Monitor Highlights Ongoing Economic Uncertainty

The Dublin private sector started 2024 on the front foot as renewed growth of new orders supported faster rises in output and employment. The dominant service sector was the main source of expansion. Increases are hopefully set to become more broad based as the year progresses. The positive performance in Dublin was consistent with the picture for the Rest of Ireland which also began the year in expansion mode, although the capital saw faster growth rates across the three indicators covered.

Dublin and the broader Irish retail performance was generally stable YoY in Q4 2023. Dublin retail sales were up by 3.4% (SA) versus Q4 2022. Overall tourist spending grew for Dublin as well Ireland in the quarter. The growth rate for the Capital was an impressive 5.7% while tourist spending across Ireland grew by 8.7% compared to Q4 2022.

Getting a clear read on the economy is proving elusive at the moment. This edition of the monitor reflects this challenge, noting a mixed picture across different indicators. We have new peaks for hotel occupancy and a faltering demand for restaurants, reasonable retail performance but weakening business activity and we continue to see strong employment statistics but fewer vacancies. All things considered, the domestic economy has recorded growth, and is expected to continue doing so, but weak external demand is dampening the pace of expected growth.

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