Tourism into and out of Ireland increased in 2014

The number of overseas trips to Ireland increased by more than 100,000 in the last three months of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013.

Trips to Ireland by non-residents increased from 1.58 million in quarter four 2013 to 1.69 million in 2014, and increase of 7.3 per cent.

The number of nights spent in Ireland by overseas travellers increased by 3.8 per cent, up from 10.74 million to 11.15 million.

The CSO tourism and travel statistics show earnings from overseas travellers increased by 9.9 per cent, going from €862 million to €947 million. When fares are excluded, total expenditure increased from €665 million to €711 million, an increase of 6.9 per cent over the period.

The number of trips made by Irish residents overseas also increased, from 1.33 million to 1.46 million, up 9.7 per cent. The average trip duration was 6.7 nights.

Total tourism and travel expenditure by Irish residents overseas increased by 10.3 per cent, up from €868 million in quarter 4, 2013 to €957 million in quarter 4, 2014. When fares are included, total expenditure on overseas trips also increased by 10.3 per cent, from €1,066 million to €1,176 million.

In 2014, a total of 7.60 million overseas trips were made to Ireland compared to 6.99 million trips in 2013 (+8.9 per cent). Overseas travellers to Ireland spent a total of 54.9 million nights in the country in 2014 compared to 50.9 million nights the previous year (+7.6 per cent). Overseas travel to Ireland generated earnings of €4.7 billion in 2014 compared to €4.2 billion in 2013 (+10.4 per cent).

Irish residents made a total of 6.51 million overseas trips in 2014 compared to 6.32 million trips in 2013 (+3.0 per cent). These trips lasted an average of 8.1 nights in 2014, the same duration as in the previous year. Total tourism and travel expenditure (excluding fares) on overseas travel by Irish residents increased by 2.8 per cent to €4,405 million in 2014.