Dramatic decline in people taking overseas holidays

THE NUMBER of overseas holidays taken by Irish people fell by almost 20 per cent this summer, compared with the same period last year, the latest figures from the CSO show.

It is the first time in 18 years there has been a decline in foreign holidays by Irish residents in the period July to September – typically the busiest time of year for overseas holiday trips.

The CSO statistics, for Tourism and Travel: Quarter 3 2009, published yesterday also show a dramatic decline last summer in business for BBs in the Republic.

While the number of nights spent in hotels fell by 16 per cent in this summer, compared with July to September 2008, nights spent in guesthouses/BBs decreased by 33 per cent.

“The number of visits abroad from July to September 2009 by Irish residents was 2,137,000, a decrease of 12 per cent on the corresponding period in 2008,” says the bulletin.

“Trips for the purpose of holiday/leisure and recreation fell by the largest amount, a decrease of 279,000, down 17 per cent.

“This is the first time since 1991 that the number of trips abroad by Irish residents fell in the period July to September compared to the same period in the previous year.”

In the same period there was also a decline in the number of overseas trips made to Ireland, from 2,472,000 in July to September 2008, to 2,177,000 in the same period this year, a decline of 12 per cent.

The largest decline in overseas visitors was by British residents, which fell by 17 per cent.