The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released new data indicating that the numbers of overseas trips taken to Ireland increased 6.6% during the three months from April to June this year compared to the same period in 2016.
The result for the second quarter meant that revenue from overseas visits for the first half of the year was 7.1% ahead of 2016, with €2.066 billion spent by visitors. Mainland Europeans spent €749 million, North America €621 million, Britain €455 million, while Australia/Developing markets spent €241 million.
However, the statistics also cited that revenue associated with visits from Great Britain fell by 3.7%.
As reported by rte.ie, the CSO's figures revealed that a total of 2.769 million trips were made to Ireland during 2017's second quarter, which represented a rise of 170,000 on last year's Q2 number of 2.599 million.
This included a 70,000 increase in the amount of American tourists traveling to the Irish shores, with 546,000 US residents coming to the country. However, British tourist numbers declined from 1.014 million to 949,000.
Revenue from overseas trips to Ireland in Q2 rose 11.7% than the same period last year.
The data also divulged that the average length of overseas excursions to Ireland dropped slightly from 6.7 to 6.6 nights, while the total tourism and travel earnings from visitors to the country rose by 13.4% from €1.655 billion to €1.876 billion on an annual basis.
The number of trips taken out of the country by Irish citizens, on the other hand, increased by 7.3% from 1.975 million trips in the second quarter of 2016 to 2.119 million during April to June of this year. The average length of such excursions fell from 7.1 to 6.8 nights. Total travel and tourism expenditure, meanwhile, rose 3.1% from €1.243 billion to €1.281 billion.
Commenting on the above statistics, Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons said, "While we can see the impact of currency changes in today's CSO results, which confirm a decline of 6% in British visitors in the first half of the year, revenue from the market has held up somewhat better. This year, Tourism Ireland has placed greater focus on 'culturally curious' visitors from Britain, who stay longer and spend more, because they are less impacted by currency fluctuations. However, competitiveness and value for money messages are more important than ever right now."
