Latest news with #GreggPatrick
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
CSO figures for May show 10% drop in tourist numbers
Inbound tourism to the State was down 10 per cent last month compared to the same period in 2024, latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. Some 560,500 foreign visitors made a trip to the Republic in May, spending €477 million, down 21 per cent compared with the same month last year. The largest contingent of visitors came from Britain (35 per cent) and the United States (25 per cent). The most frequent reason for travelling was for holiday and leisure (43 per cent), followed by visiting friends or relatives (31 per cent). The figures are included in the CSO's Inbound Tourism release, published monthly. READ MORE The average length of stay for visitors was 7.3 nights, up from an average of 7.2 nights in May 2024, and down from 7.8 nights in May 2023. Visitors stayed a total of 4.1 million nights in the State, a drop of 8 per cent when compared with May 2024, and down 9 per cent when compared with May 2023. Gregg Patrick, statistician in the CSO's tourism and travel division, said the number of foreign visitors who departed the State on overseas routes last month was down by 10 per cent compared with May 2024 and by 2 per cent compared with May 2023. He said that compared with May 2024, visitor numbers from Britain fell by 9 per cent, from continental Europe by 21 per cent, and from the rest of the world, outside of North America, by 38 per cent. 'In contrast, visitors from North America were up 11 per cent,' he added. 'Compared with May 2023, visitors from Great Britain were down by 1 per cent, continental Europe by 22 per cent, and the rest of the world by 9 per cent, whilst visitors from North America were up 33 per cent.' The CSO has held a series of meetings with tourism bodies over concerns that declining inbound tourist data is out of kilter with industry experience. [ CSO meets tourism industry over 'confusing' visitor data Opens in new window ] Fáilte Ireland was the latest organisation to seek a briefing from statisticians last month. Inbound tourist numbers have declined consistently since last September, raising eyebrows among tourism operators who have not noticed a corresponding effect on business.
BreakingNews.ie
30-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Over 528,000 foreign visitors came to Ireland in April 2025, down by 4%
A total of 528,100 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in April 2025, down 4 per cent compared with April 2024, and up 14 per cent compared with April 2023. The visitors spent €375 million on their trips (excluding fares), down 10 per cent compared with April 2024, and up 1 per cent compared with April 2023. Advertisement The largest contingent of visitors came from Great Britain (41 per cent), followed by visitors from the United States (18 per cent). The most frequent reason for travelling to Ireland was for holiday (40 per cent). Visitors stayed a total of 3.4 million nights in the country, a drop of 1 per cent when compared with April 2024, and down 6 per cent when compared with April 2023. The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 6.5 nights, up from an average of 6.4 nights in April 2024, and down from 7.9 nights in April 2023. Advertisement Commenting on the release, Gregg Patrick, statistician in the tourism and travel Division, said: 'The results show that 528,100 foreign visitors departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2025, a decrease of 4 per cent compared with April 2024 and an increase of 14 per cent compared with April 2023. Visitors' expenditure in Ireland (excluding fares) was €375 million. Visitors from Great Britain accounted for €96 million (26 per cent) of this spend, Continental Europe for €134 million (36 per cent), North America for €121 million (32 per cent), and visitors from the rest of the world for €25 million (7 per cent). Taken together, this represented a fall of 10 per cent compared with April 2024, and a rise of 1 per cent compared with April 2023. Advertisement The visitors most frequent reason for their journey was for holiday or leisure (40 per cent). Their second most frequent reason was to visit friends or relatives (38 per cent). Ireland Gerry Adams awarded €100,000 in damages after winn... Read More More of the visitors stayed with family or in their own property (42 per cent) than in any other accommodation type, and the typical visit lasted 6.5 nights.' Speaking about the figures, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, said: 'Industry use a variety of data sources, both their own and independently collated, and April was a strong month compared to the same month last year. "Industry record bums on seats and heads on pillows as opposed to the CSO sample survey – there remains a misalignment of sorts between the two data sources but it is narrowing and this is welcome'.
Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
April sees recovery in tourism numbers following sharp first quarter drop
The number of foreign visitors arriving in Ireland last month was down 4% on April of last year, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows. Some 528,100 tourists completed a trip to Ireland in April, with the largest contingent of visitors coming from Great Britain at 41%, followed by visitors from the United States at 18%. The 4% drop is the smallest annual fall in foreign visitors since last October. The data from the CSO has been closely watched in recent months, with figures for January showing a 25% drop and those for February showing a fall of 30%. Tourism industry figures have questioned the data, however, arguing that such significant drops in visitor numbers were not being witnessed by them on the ground. Reacting to the data for April, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), said the tourism numbers show a recovery from the sharp decline reported in the first quarter. "Nonetheless, there remains somewhat of a disconnect between the monthly CSO survey and industry data," he said. "The latter includes airports, hotels and attractions which reported a robust April compared to a year ago helped by a later Easter period. "Industry record bums on seats and heads on pillows as opposed to the CSO sample survey – there remains a misalignment of sorts between the two data sources but it is narrowing and this is welcome," he said. The CSO data is based on in-person interviews with approximately 13,000 passengers departing Ireland through airports and ferry ports. April typically accounts for between 7% and 9% of total annual visitor figures. However, the CSO warned that because of the relatively small proportion of the total visitors accounted for in this period, external factors such as the date of Easter or other periodic events may have an observable impact. The data for April shows that the most frequent reason for travelling to Ireland was for a holiday at 40%. Visitors stayed a total of 3.4 million nights in the country, a drop of 1% when compared with April 2024, and down 6% when compared with April 2023. The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 6.5 nights, up from an average of 6.4 nights in April 2024, and down from 7.9 nights in April 2023. Gregg Patrick, Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division, said spending by tourists here, excluding their travel fares was was €375m. "Visitors from Great Britain accounted for €96m (26%) of this spend, Continental Europe for €134m (36%), North America for €121m(32%), and visitors from the Rest of the World for €25m (7%). Taken together, this represented a fall of 10% compared with April 2024, and a rise of 1% compared with April 2023," he said.
BreakingNews.ie
29-04-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Number of tourists visiting Ireland falls by 15% in March
The number of inbound tourists to Ireland fell during March by 15 per cent to 441,200, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office. This continues a downward trend which has been ongoing since September of 2024. Advertisement During March 2024, there were 521,800 visitors to Ireland, bringing the total inbound tourism numbers for the first quarter to over 1.4 million. In the same period this year, there have been just over 1.08 million – a 23 per cent decrease. It is also down 7 per cent when compared with the same period in 2023. Gregg Patrick, statistician with the CSO, said these latest figures 'continues the downward year-on-year trend in foreign visitor numbers first observed in September 2024'. 'However, the decrease in March 2025 was less than the decrease in February 2025,' he said. Advertisement The largest contingent of visitors during the month came from Britain, with 176,100. This is down 12 per cent compared to March 2024. The next highest was from the US, with 82,900 visitors arriving in Ireland, down 18.2 per cent from 101,400. Irish visitors to the US were also down significantly, by 27 per cent during March, compared to the same period last year. In February, just over 31,200 people visited Ireland from the US, accounting for 10 per cent of all foreign visitors during the month. Advertisement This was down by 15,400 during the same month last year. However a smaller decline was recorded in January, with 46,600 US visitors to Ireland recorded, down from 50,200 the year prior. Visitors from continental Europe were down 17 per cent in March, while visitors from North America in general were down 18 per cent and visitors from the rest of the world were down 24 per cent. Visitors to Ireland spent a combined €326 million on their trips, excluding fares, down 22 per cent year on year. The average cost of their trips excluding fares in March was €738, whereas the average cost 12 months previously was €799. The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 6.5 nights, up from an average of 6.0 nights in March 2024, and down from 7.4 nights in March 2023. The most frequent reason for travelling to Ireland was for a holiday, cited by 36 per cent. The second most frequent reason was to visit friends or relatives, cited by 35 per cent.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Tourism to Ireland falls by 15% during March continuing a downward trend
Inbound tourism numbers to Ireland fell during March by 15% to 441,200, continuing a downward trend which has been ongoing since September last year, new data from the Central Statistics Office shows. During March 2024, there were 521,800 visitors to Ireland bringing the total number of inbound tourists for the first quarter to over 1.4m. In the same period this year, there have been just over 1.08m a 23% decrease. It is also down 7% compared with the same period in 2023. Gregg Patrick, statistician with the CSO, said these latest figures 'continues the downward year-on-year trend in foreign visitor numbers first observed in September 2024'. 'However, the decrease in March 2025 was less than the decrease in February 2025,' he added. The largest contingent of visitors during the month came from Britain, with 176,100 visitors down 12% compared to March last year. The next highest was from the US, with 82,900 visitors arriving in Ireland down 18.2% from 101,400. Irish visitors to the US were down significantly, by 27%, during March compared to the same period last year. During February, there were just over 31,200 US visitors to Ireland accounting for 10% of all foreign visitors during the month. This was down by 15,400 compared to the same month last year. A smaller decline was recorded in January with 46,600 US visitors to Ireland recorded - down from 50,200 the year prior. During March, visitors from continental Europe were down 17%, visitors from North America in general were down 18%, and visitors from the rest of the world were down 24%. Visitors to Ireland spent a combined €326m on their trips excluding fares. This is down 22% year-on-year. The average cost of their trips excluding fares in March was €738, whereas the average cost 12 months previously was €799. Visitors stayed a total of 2.9m nights in the country, a drop of 8%. The average length of stay was 6.5 nights. The most frequent reason for travelling to Ireland was for holiday, cited by 36%. The second most frequent reason was to visit friends or relatives cited by 35%.
