75+ Interesting Ireland Travel & Tourism Statistics (2024)

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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. 

[Statista]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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%).

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

18. In 2019, 4.8 million tourists from Great Britain visited Ireland.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

23. Food & Drink represents the largest portion of holiday spending in Ireland by UK visitors.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

31. The island of Ireland is the 8th most popular destination on the US holiday maker’s travel bucket list.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

Meanwhile, 528 thousand were business trips.

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

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Statista]

38. Tourists from Ireland spent almost 8.6 billion euros in 2022 on overseas trips, the highest figure between 2013 and 2022.

[Statista]

39. The number of domestic day trips in Ireland rose in 2022, reaching 16.17 million trips.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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

[Failte 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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Statista]

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.

[Statista]

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).

[Statista]

48. Every €1 million in tourist expenditure can support 27 jobs in the tourism sector in Ireland.

[Failte 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.

[Statista]

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.

[Statista]

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

[Statista]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

56. Travel and tourism contributed, both directly and indirectly, 14.9 billion euros to Ireland’s GDP in 2022.

[Statista]

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%).

[Statista]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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.

[Failte Ireland]

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%.

[Central Statistics Office]

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.

[Central Statistics Office]

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.

[Central Statistics Office]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[TourismIreland]

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.

[IbisWorld]

This is an average of 26.7 employees per hotel.

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

[IbisWorld]

70. In Ireland, the hotel occupancy was 81% between January and September 2023, up +1% from the January to September 2019 period.

[TourismIreland]

71. Hotel occupancy for January to September 2023 in Northern Ireland was 76%, or an increase of +4% compared to January to September 2019.

[TourismIreland]

72. In the period of January-September 2023, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) for a hotel room in Ireland was €174.

[TourismIreland]

73. Meanwhile, the ADR for a hotel room in Dublin was €186 per night, or €12 higher than the country average.

[TourismIreland]

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. 

[TourismIreland]

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. 

[TourismIreland]

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

[TourismIreland]

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

Source:

• TourismIreland 1
• TourismIreland 2
• TourismIreland 3
• TourismIreland 4
• FailteIreland
• Statista
• Central Statistics Office
• IbisWorld