Number of European tourists visiting Ireland up by 33%

There was a 33 per cent increase in the number of Europeans visiting Ireland in the last months of 2005, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The figures also showed an 11 per cent increase in the number of Irish visits abroad during that time.

However, they found that Irish people spent more money on their trips abroad than overseas visitors spent here.

In total, overseas visitor numbers increased by 10 per cent to 1,547,000 between October and December 2005, compared with the same period in 2004.

Britain accounted for the vast majority of visitors with 906,000 visitors taking trips to Ireland during that time. This was an 8 per cent increase on the previous year.

Most of these visitors were likely to stay with friends or relatives, followed by hotels. Some 428,000 Europeans visited Ireland during the same period. Most overseas visitors cited "visits to friends and relatives" as the reason for their journey, followed by "holiday, leisure, recreation".

Most Europeans were also likely to stay with friends or relatives but US and Canadian visitors were likely to stay in hotels.

The reported decline in the guesthouse and B&B sector continued during this period with a drop of 13 per cent in visitors on the previous year.

Visits by residents of the US and Canada fell by 9 per cent between October and December 2005, compared with the previous year. The CSO figures show the continuing increase in Irish people travelling abroad.

Some 1,316,000 people travelled abroad between October and December 2005 - an 11 per cent rise on the previous year.

The number of Irish business trips abroad grew by 19 per cent but holiday and leisure trips still accounted for the most travel.

The biggest increase was seen on air and sea continental routes with trips increasing by 17 per cent to 614,000. However, there was a 24 per cent decrease in the number travelling abroad on sea cross-channel routes.

While fewer Irish visitors travelled abroad than overseas visitors coming here, the Irish visitors still managed to spend more money. Irish visitors spent €1,035 million during their overseas trips - €106 million more than overseas visitors spent here during that time.

This was the third year that Irish visitors outspent their overseas counterparts.