The number of overseas arrivals to Ireland in February 2023 increased by 56.1%, compared to the same month last year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Details
According to a statement published on CSO.ie, the number of passengers who arrived in Ireland on overseas routes in February 2023 increased to over 1,228,900 – from 787,300 in February 2022 – with 1,184,200 passengers arriving by air and 44,700 arriving by sea.
More arriving passengers came via Great Britain than any other country, with 493,100 passengers arriving therefrom in the second month of 2023.
Statement By Statistician
The statement published on CSO.ie quoted statistician Gregg Patrick as saying, “The latest air and sea travel statistics show that 1,228,900 passengers arrived in Ireland on overseas routes in February 2023. These passengers, comprising foreign visitors arriving in Ireland and Irish overseas travellers returning home, represented a very substantial increase on February 2022, when 787,300 passengers arrived on overseas routes. The increase is even more substantial when compared with February 2021, when just 54,800 passengers arrived on these routes. Passenger arrivals are also higher than pre-pandemic February 2020, when 1,215,100 passengers arrived on overseas routes, representing an increase of 1.1%.
“The recovery is seen in both modes of travel – air and sea – although the recovery in air travel is most pronounced, increasing by 56.9% in February 2023, compared with February 2022. The recovery is also spread across all major routes, with transatlantic traffic up most – 97.5% – in relative terms, increasing from 38,100 in February 2022 to 75,300 in February 2023. Among the Continental routes, Spanish routes remain the busiest, with 134,100 passengers arriving on these routes in February 2023 – a 42.5% increase, compared with February 2022.
“However, in overall terms, Great Britain remained the most important departure country for overseas travel to Ireland, with 493,100 passengers arriving on air and sea routes from Great Britain in February 2023, compared with just 318,500 in February 2022.”
Read More: Overseas Arrivals To Ireland Increased Year On Year In January
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