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For more information on this release:
E-mail: tourism@cso.ie Patsy King (+353) 21 453 5502 Margaret Power (+353) 21 453 5463
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5376
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Household Travel Survey

Quarter 2 2015

Domestic Trips '000 Outbound Trips '000
Quarter 2Quarter 2 Quarter 2Quarter 2
Reason for Journey20142015 20142015
Holiday862879 1,0251,166
Business96103 204193
Visiting Friends/Relatives567562 416407
Other246246 196163
Total1,7701,790 1,8411,929

Outbound trips increased by 4.8% in Quarter 2 2015

Figure 1 Number of trips by reason for journey -  Quarter 2 2015
go to full release
 

Domestic Travel

  • Irish residents took 1.8 million domestic trips in Quarter 2 2015, an increase of 1.1% when compared to the same period twelve months earlier. Each trip had an average duration of 2.5 nights, resulting in almost 4.5 million bed nights. See Table 1.

  • Holidays accounted for almost half (49.1%) of all domestic trips, while close to a third (31.4%) were to friends or relatives. See Table 2.

  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for 707,000 domestic trips in Quarter 2 2015, while those staying with family and friends accounted for 573,000 trips. See Table 6.

  • Total expenditure on domestic trips in Quarter 2 2015 amounted to almost €354 million. Almost €210 million of this was accounted for by those on holidays, while those visiting friends or relatives spent €60 million in the second quarter of 2015. See Table 7.

     

Outbound Travel

  • Over 1.9 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in Quarter 2 2015, an increase of 4.8% over the same period last year.  See Table 9.

  • A total of 13.3 million bed nights were availed of by Irish residents travelling abroad in the second quarter of 2015.  The average length of stay on outbound trips was 6.9 nights. The UK remains the most popular destination for travel in terms of number of trips (550,000), followed by Spain (501,000) and France (189,000). See Tables 9 and 9a.

  • Over 60% of all outbound trips were classified as holidays, while over a fifth (21.1%) were for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives. See Table 10.

  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for 5.1 million nights, while those staying with family and friends accounted for 3.5 million nights.  See Table 14.

  • Irish residents spent almost €1,510 million on outbound trips in Quarter 2 2015, of which €986 million was spent on holidays, €204 million on visiting friends or relatives and €199 million on business trips. See Table 15.

Table 1 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,790
Border, Midland and Western2,3022,1022,1242,2562,394 424590853527461542
Southern and Eastern4,9985,0674,9074,8554,960 1,0001,1801,6551,1269661,248
             
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,462
Border, Midland and Western7,2056,3876,1186,8577,369 9321,6623,3861,3901,0431,474
Southern and Eastern15,33515,24114,00213,79213,835 2,3662,9195,9452,6061,9552,988
             
             Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.5
Border, Midland and Western3.13.02.93.03.1 2.22.84.02.62.32.7
Southern and Eastern3.13.02.92.82.8 2.42.53.62.3 2.02.4
Table 1a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited and Length of Stay, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
                               '000
  1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights
  Q1 2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q2 2015
Total Domestic - Trips 1,267 157 1,494 275 1,693814 1,446 207 1,284 143 1,491 299
Border, Midland and Western 381 43 496 94 549304 458 69 409 52 439 103
Southern and Eastern 886 114 998 181 1,144511 988 138 875 91 1,052 196
                        
Total Domestic - Nights 2,169 1,128 2,838 1,743 3,1836,148 2,517 1,478 2,163 836 2,646 1,815
Border, Midland and Western 643 289 996 666 1,0642,322 789 601 739 304 803 671
Southern and Eastern 1,526 840 1,842 1,077 2,1193,826 1,728 878 1,424 531 1,843 1,145
                        
                         
Average Length of Stay 1.7 7.2 1.9 6.3 1.97.5 1.7 7.1 1.7 5.8 1.8 6.1
Border, Midland and Western 1.7 6.7 2.0 7.1 1.97.6 1.7 8.7 1.8 5.9 1.8 6.5
Southern and Eastern 1.7 7.4 1.8 5.9 1.9 7.5 1.7 6.4 1.6 5.8 1.8 5.8
Table 1b Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average
Length of Stay by Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Border827729711772785
Midland223284329316315
West1,2531,0891,0841,1681,294
Dublin1,1161,2791,3921,3441,357
Mid-East369503463487465
Mid-West754692659655671
South-East1,1361,101991957990
South-West1,6221,4931,4031,4111,478
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Border2,6582,3632,0862,3562,414
Midland472565628639676
West4,0753,4593,4053,8624,280
Dublin2,6952,9563,2422,9263,085
Mid-East8861,2151,0761,061973
Mid-West2,3142,1641,8912,0052,020
South-East3,3503,5763,0102,9033,086
South-West6,0915,3304,7834,8984,672
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Border3.23.22.93.03.1
Midland2.12.01.92.02.1
West3.33.23.13.33.3
Dublin2.42.32.32.22.3
Mid-East2.42.42.32.22.1
Mid-West3.13.12.93.13.0
South-East2.93.23.03.03.1
South-West3.83.63.43.53.2
Table 1c Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay
by Main County Visited, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips17,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Dublin1,1161,2791,3921,3441,357
Cork855837793740805
Galway737686651739774
Kerry767656610671673
Wexford580547481455501
Mayo399348342373432
Clare426376340294321
Donegal266272245269274
Waterford301335254242255
Limerick192172169208209
Wicklow169205213194202
Kildare and Carlow174210196198193
Sligo225193189182187
Cavan and Leitrim194161178192167
Kilkenny191149159204166
Louth and Monaghan142104100129158
Westmeath90135170149156
Tipperary137144152155142
Laois and Offaly108124118146141
Meath88158149150138
Roscommon and Longford1428013277106
      
Total Domestic - Nights122,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Dublin2,6952,9563,2422,9263,085
Cork2,9982,8132,4172,0812,292
Galway2,1942,0482,0582,2242,472
Kerry3,0932,5182,3662,8162,380
Wexford1,8321,9741,4221,6031,758
Mayo1,5541,2851,1871,4151,555
Clare1,3381,4271,1961,2371,084
Donegal9961,1229089701,157
Waterford9751,097916742875
Limerick697398358466556
Wicklow438620504523477
Kildare and Carlow375441436361382
Sligo887561502585537
Cavan and Leitrim457418448531364
Kilkenny397340439437319
Louth and Monaghan318262227270356
Westmeath172281297299290
Tipperary280340354313381
Laois and Offaly235244232298302
Meath216319351286247
Roscommon and Longford393165258265336
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Dublin2.42.32.32.22.3
Cork3.53.43.02.82.8
Galway3.03.03.23.03.2
Kerry4.03.83.94.23.5
Wexford3.23.63.03.53.5
Mayo3.93.73.53.83.6
Clare3.13.83.54.23.4
Donegal3.74.13.73.64.2
Waterford3.23.33.63.13.4
Limerick3.62.32.12.22.7
Wicklow2.63.02.42.72.4
Kildare and Carlow2.22.12.21.82.0
Sligo3.92.92.73.22.9
Cavan and Leitrim2.42.62.52.82.2
Kilkenny2.12.32.82.11.9
Louth and Monaghan2.22.52.32.12.2
Westmeath1.92.11.72.01.9
Tipperary2.02.42.32.02.7
Laois and Offaly2.22.02.02.02.1
Meath2.52.02.41.91.8
Roscommon and Longford2.82.12.03.43.2
1 Data is published at county level above a threshold of 130,000 trips for most recent year. Data is amalgamated below this threshold.
Table 2 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,790
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,583 5478621,511662621879
Business370350322341402 1229680104102103
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,423 551567612693508562
Other1955892961858947 204246304193196246
             
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,462
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,572 1,2502,3946,4911,4361,3322,368
Business672586621558794 241222176154172223
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,356 1,3501,2721,8961,8391,0631,240
Other12,5402,2532,5282,1132,482 456692769566432631
             
             Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.5
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.2 2.32.84.32.22.12.7
Business1.81.71.91.62.0 2.02.32.21.51.72.2
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.6 2.52.23.12.72.12.2
Other12.72.52.62.52.6 2.22.82.52.9 2.22.6
1 Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 2a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights &
Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,583
Business370350322341402
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,423
Education & Training12983118109100
Sporting Events237238254223305
Work/Looking for work113121996764
Other1476449489459478
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,572
Business672586621558794
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,356
Education & Training672395689500498
Sporting Events478524509423575
Work/Looking for work275307336197218
Other11,1151,0289949931,191
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.2
Business1.81.71.91.62.0
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.6
Education & Training5.24.75.84.65.0
Sporting Events2.02.22.01.91.9
Work/Looking for work2.42.53.42.93.4
Other12.32.32.02.22.5
1 Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 3 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region Visited and Reason for Journey, Quarter 2, 2014 - 2015
          '000
 Reason for Journey 
         Business        Holiday Visiting Friends/Relatives          Other1        Total
 Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015
Total Domestic - Trips961038628795675622462461,7701,790
Border, Midland and Western34172932391841927994590542
Southern and Eastern62865686403823701671511,1801,248
           
Total Domestic - Nights2222232,3942,3681,2721,2406926314,5804,462
Border, Midland and Western72268596554264473043461,6621,474
Southern and Eastern1501961,5351,7138467933882852,9192,988
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 4 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Sex, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,790
Male3,3273,2403,0603,1373,274 6327721,140729630797
Female3,9733,9293,9703,9744,081 7929981,367923797993
             
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,462
Male10,2069,7318,9589,0339,333 1,4302,0004,2461,6581,3952,027
Female12,33311,89711,16211,61711,871 1,8682,5805,0852,337 1,6032,435
Table 4a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number
of Nights by Mode of Transport Used, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Air4952233421
Bus/Rail767763797919816
Private Vehicle6,4166,2386,1146,0556,398
Other16711697103119
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Air13323015598182
Bus/Rail2,4692,1372,2922,3632,288
Private Vehicle19,73718,95017,32917,87718,301
Other1201312344312433
1Other includes Sea, Cruise, Bicycle, Hired Vehicle and other modes of transport
not elsewhere specified.
Table 4b Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 2, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
Method of booking         Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015
       
Internet      
    Direct47.835.76.23.930.727.8
    Via travel agent/tour operator11.42.80.10.32.62.5
       
Non internet      
    Direct20.953.76.04.914.617.3
    Via travel agent/tour operator3.12.00.10.10.80.7
       
No booking required1.41.886.689.749.449.2
       
Don't know15.54.01.01.11.92.6
       
Total100100100100100100
1A package tour/holiday is where two or more services are combined and sold as a single product at a single price e.g transport and accommodation.
2Transport booked separately, not part of a package.
3Accommodation booked separately, not part of a package.
Table 5 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region of Residence, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,790
Border, Midland and Western1,7271,6631,8391,6781,750 361407597385380428
Southern and Eastern5,5725,5065,1925,4335,605 1,0631,3631,9111,2681,0471,362
             
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,462
Border, Midland and Western4,7684,5604,5674,5244,840 7761,0362,036991692935
Southern and Eastern17,77217,06815,55316,12516,365 2,5213,5447,2953,004 2,3063,526
Table 5a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region
of Residence, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Border602565676640680
Midland369419391377362
West756680772661708
Dublin2,1142,1781,9842,1972,184
Mid-East871880832876950
Mid-West633643634626613
South-East738715676747754
South-West1,2171,0891,0659881,103
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Border1,6561,7041,6881,8941,825
Midland8621,1171,0041,1621,140
West2,2511,7391,8761,4681,875
Dublin7,4717,1866,2226,9927,061
Mid-East2,6692,9962,3902,6382,785
Mid-West1,8161,8622,0681,9311,615
South-East2,1622,0231,8431,7201,909
South-West3,6543,0013,0292,8452,995
Table 6 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,790
Hotel 3,0402,8452,8102,9333,037 670733891743643707
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602 531183527873139
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,425 497587676665504573
Other11,6541,4941,2621,1581,290 204331589167207371
             
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,462
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,174 1,1771,5322,1381,3271,1161,405
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,141 1644862,201290231550
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,788 1,2081,4832,2721,8251,1181,327
Other17,0236,0494,6785,1415,102 7491,0792,7215525331,180
             
             Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.5
Hotel 2.22.12.12.12.0 1.82.12.41.81.72.0
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.2 3.14.16.33.73.23.9
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.8 2.42.53.42.72.22.3
Other14.24.03.74.44.0 3.73.34.63.3 2.63.2
1Other includes stays in Caravan/Camping, Guesthouse/B&B, Own Holiday Home, Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 6a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights
& Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Caravan/Camping560412302342340
Guesthouse/B&B311317334300381
Own Holiday Home596573457382417
Hotel3,0402,8452,8102,9333,037
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,425
Other1187192168134153
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Caravan/Camping2,6181,8151,3351,7381,554
Guesthouse/B&B735718810739950
Own Holiday Home2,8862,7851,6862,0821,858
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,174
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,141
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,788
Other1783731846583739
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Caravan/Camping4.74.44.45.14.6
Guesthouse/B&B2.42.32.42.52.5
Own Holiday Home4.84.93.75.44.5
Hotel2.22.12.12.12.0
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.2
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.8
Other14.23.85.04.34.8
1 Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation
not elsewhere specified.
Table 7 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            € million
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0 101.3193.8402.4154.5116.7209.8
Business85.976.975.778.498.3 24.924.325.923.223.027.5
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2 52.767.393.788.549.460.2
Other1232.2208.2215.3187.9211.5 37.851.364.557.9 41.256.0
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 7a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure
by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     € million
 20102011201220132014
Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0
Business85.976.975.778.498.3
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2
Education & Training40.526.535.533.130.0
Sporting Events54.151.049.243.553.8
Work/Looking for work19.523.428.713.512.8
Other1118.1107.2101.997.7114.9
1Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not
elsewhere specified.
Table 8 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            € million
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5
Border, Midland and Western508.4412.5409.9444.0482.8 58.4117.8201.2105.572.8113.4
Southern and Eastern1,052.11,003.4935.5929.1981.1 158.4218.8385.4218.6 157.4240.1
Table 8a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
    € million
 20102011201220132014
Total Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0
Border175.8127.0132.8131.0146.5
Midland35.743.141.947.844.3
West297.0242.5235.2265.2292.0
Dublin227.2248.3245.8255.8245.0
Mid-East66.484.279.576.076.8
Mid-West142.8122.9118.6105.0131.6
South-East241.1218.8180.0178.6200.8
South-West374.6329.3311.6313.8327.0
Table 9 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips and Number of Nights by Country/Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
France635496602528583 9218322286 94189
Germany219190164159194 36465458 3342
Italy358267345288288 3110512230 65128
Portugal333337358330372141121766915116
Spain1,3711,4101,4071,3831,345 186389498273 210501
UK (Great Britain & Northern Ireland)2,3432,3042,2762,3722,341 515596624607 547550
                 Of which : Great Britain1,9601,9341,8461,9721,953 453496517488 478488
                                  Northern Ireland383370430400389 62100107119 6962
Other Europe1818781722741759 109241250158 176240
North America452410370405446 9482145124 10795
Asia & Middle East163127165127165 47363547 4224
All other areas224191191245184 46503256 4846
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
France5,9524,4555,5495,0505,033 5871,5202,376549 5171,369
Germany1,3341,1659017421,174 177141540316 207253
Italy3,0732,4932,7532,1712,365 2038041,177181 327739
Portugal3,0193,2833,3752,8693,478 1589751,922423 174901
Spain14,34813,94713,40012,98313,250 1,7473,6015,3802,521 2,0404,142
UK (Great Britain & Northern Ireland)10,45110,6799,9409,7109,945 1,9202,5603,2122,253 1,9342,278
                 Of which : Great Britain9,4569,5318,7588,6148,874 1,7242,2912,8771,981 1,7902,117
                                  Northern Ireland9951,1481,1811,0961,071 195268335273 144161
Other Europe16,4285,9835,2355,6346,4417401,7092,9431,0499971,224
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,219
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,327 836466581444 783383
All other areas3,9224,0543,5615,0683,287 8167156881,069 1,001775
1All other EU member states and all other European countries.
Table 9a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,725 9661,6221,8921,245 1,1011,710
Other Europe2281222202205157 18505436 3954
North America452410370405446 9482145124 10795
Other 387319355372349 938666102 9070
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,161 5,41510,94316,7577,046 5,93410,591
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,523 117367794245 262314
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,219
Other 6,9236,2856,3167,4635,615 1,6531,1801,2691,513 1,7851,158
              
             Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.9
EU17.37.27.06.77.0 5.66.78.95.7 5.46.2
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.7 6.67.314.86.8 6.75.8
North America13.114.015.113.514.2 11.111.920.610.8 13.412.9
Other 17.919.717.820.116.1 17.713.719.114.8 19.816.6
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Table 9b Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights &
Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,725
Other Europe2281222202205157
North America452410370405446
Central, South & Other Americas6256694030
Asia & Middle East163127165127165
Africa11070588682
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania52666411972
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,161
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,523
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337
Central, South & Other Americas825904985480494
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,327
Africa1,5821,3449849101,111
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania1,5151,8051,5923,6781,682
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
EU17.37.27.06.77.0
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.7
North America13.114.015.113.514.2
Central, South & Other Americas13.216.114.311.916.6
Asia & Middle East18.417.516.718.914.1
Africa14.419.317.010.613.5
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania29.027.525.031.023.3
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Table 9c European Union Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by
Country/Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total EU Outbound - Trips5,7975,5635,6735,5965,725
Austria7652586267
Belgium 6569557164
Netherlands951201168185
Denmark/Finland/Sweden5957534647
France635496602528583
Germany219190164159194
Italy358267345288288
Other EU1185204173213259
Poland5757656379
Portugal333337358330372
Spain1,3711,4101,4071,3831,345
UK (Great Britain & Northern Ireland)2,3432,3042,2762,3722,341
     Of which: Great Britain1,9601,9341,8461,9721,953
                     Northern Ireland383370430400389
      
Total EU Outbound - Nights42,23540,03839,71037,28140,161
Austria579449387410515
Belgium 297267187254381
Netherlands446597667322639
Denmark/Finland/Sweden438403265408268
France5,9524,4555,5495,0505,033
Germany1,3341,1659017421,174
Italy3,0732,4932,7532,1712,365
Other EU11,8361,8731,8031,9932,428
Poland463428482368687
Portugal3,0193,2833,3752,8693,478
Spain14,34813,94713,40012,98313,250
UK (Great Britain & Northern Ireland)10,45110,6799,9409,7109,945
     Of which: Great Britain9,4569,5318,7588,6148,874
                     Northern Ireland9951,1481,1811,0961,071
1This category includes the following: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia for all years and Croatia from the 1st July 2013.
Table 9d Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited and
Length of Stay, 2010 - 2014
                   '000
 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights 1-3 Nights 4+ Nights1-3 Nights 4+ Nights1-3 Nights 4+ Nights
 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2014
Total Outbound - Trips2,117 4,800 1,990 4,525 1,957 4,6431,999 4,580 2,088 4,589
EU12,013 3,783 1,930 3,633 1,899 3,7741,931 3,665 2,020 3,704
Other Europe268 213 31 191 26 17627 178 24 134
North America18 434 21 389 15 35513 393 26 420
Other 18 369 7 312 17 33828 344 18 330
                   
Total Outbound - Nights5,037 52,437 4,926 49,087 4,162 48,8844,129 47,949 4,775 48,861
EU14,791 37,444 4,764 35,273 4,026 35,6853,975 33,305 4,610 35,551
Other Europe2160 2,209 79 1,887 64 1,37950 1,829 59 1,464
North America45 5,902 62 5,663 38 5,53829 5,426 68 6,269
Other 41 6,882 21 6,265 34 6,28375 7,389 37 5,577
                   
                   Nights
Average Length of Stay2.4 10.9 2.5 10.8 2.1 10.52.1 10.5 2.3 10.6
EU12.4 9.9 2.5 9.7 2.1 9.52.1 9.1 2.3 9.6
Other Europe22.4 10.4 2.5 9.9 2.4 7.91.8 10.3 2.5 11.0
North America2.5 13.6 3.0 14.5 2.6 15.62.3 13.8 2.7 14.9
Other 2.3 18.6 3.0 20.1 2.0 18.6 2.7 21.5 2.0 16.9
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Table 10 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,658 5281,0251,387718 6671,166
Business621651551630698 160204147187 170193
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,676 340416464457 343407
Other1740769727626644 145196158146 156163
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,797 4,2458,54514,5025,505 5,0268,897
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,840 669803646722 601745
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,293 2,5432,8355,0302,885 2,9272,646
Other14,9075,6545,5185,0954,705 7691,2871,6211,028 858994
              
             Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.9
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.0 8.08.310.57.7 7.57.6
Business4.04.23.73.84.1 4.23.94.43.9 3.53.9
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.9 7.56.810.86.3 8.56.5
Other16.67.47.68.17.3 5.36.610.37.0 5.56.1
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 10a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length
of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,658
Business621651551630698
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,676
Education & Training12190858085
Sporting Events224252273217236
Work/Looking for work9811312111578
Other1297313248214245
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,797
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,840
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,293
Education & Training1,1601,129978943943
Sporting Events955969984907792
Work/Looking for work1,0601,0691,8041,7961,315
Other11,7322,4881,7521,4491,654
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.0
Business4.04.23.73.84.1
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.9
Education & Training9.612.611.511.811.1
Sporting Events4.33.83.64.23.4
Work/Looking for work10.89.415.015.616.9
Other15.87.97.16.86.7
1Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 11 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region Visited and Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
                             '000
 Reason for Journey 
      Business     Holiday     Visiting Friends/Relatives     Other1     Total
 20102011201220132014 20102011201220132014 20102011201220132014 20102011201220132014 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips621651551630698 3,9643,4333,7433,6563,658 1,5921,6621,5801,6671,676 740769727626644 6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
EU2480511452488563 3,3412,9563,2703,1773,216 1,3301,4291,3121,3721,371 645668639559574 5,7975,5635,6735,5965,725
Other Europe33826123025 16114811513277 6429543641 181920814 281222202205157
North America6069486256 229196180186216 119117109129132 4428322941 452410370405446
Other 4244395053 233133177161149 8088105130132 3353353015 387319355372349
                              
Total Outbound - Nights2,4952,7142,0172,3692,840 37,65732,18333,76131,72532,797 12,41513,46211,75012,88913,293 4,9075,6545,5185,0954,705 57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
EU21,4591,6371,3171,3211,851 29,16125,37327,20225,17227,154 8,1719,1207,5897,7237,934 3,4443,9083,6023,0643,221 42,23540,03839,71037,28140,161
Other Europe3145115398695 1,5141,4269051,360722 595283346376595 11414215456111 2,3691,9661,4441,8791,523
North America484586337358318 3,1442,7842,5342,3202,918 1,5591,9901,7341,7762,052 7603649711,0011,048 5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337
Other 407376324603576 3,8382,6003,1212,8722,002 2,0902,0692,0813,0142,712 5891,241790974324 6,9236,2856,3167,4635,615
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
2From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
3Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Table 12 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Sex, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
Male3,3593,1373,2133,1843,177 585899981711 678888
Female3,5583,3773,3883,3953,499 5869421,175796 6591,041
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
Male27,37125,23624,80124,31525,249 3,9566,45810,2914,545 4,6245,767
Female30,10228,77828,24527,76328,386 4,2707,01111,5095,596 4,7877,514
Table 12a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number
of Nights by Mode of Transport Used, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Air5,8995,6475,4925,5175,652
Bus/Rail9365159133153
Private Vehicle360309435448437
Sea/Cruise548485488442391
Other1188273943
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Air50,25248,51745,89845,25647,210
Bus/Rail398166744785883
Private Vehicle1,0541,0241,9721,8981,883
Sea/Cruise5,6474,2784,2663,8293,331
Other112229166311328
1Other includes Bicycle, Hired Vehicle and other modes of transport
not elsewhere specified.
Table 12b Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by
Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 2, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
          Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2 2015
Method of booking      
       
Internet      
    Direct17.216.378.881.643.247.9
    Via travel agent/tour operator57.554.64.56.58.010.0
       
Non internet      
    Direct5.51.53.42.05.24.8
    Via travel agent/tour operator17.825.51.71.72.41.7
       
No booking required0.00.010.55.138.433.5
       
Don't know1.92.11.13.02.72.1
       
Total 100100100100100100
1A package tour/holiday is where two or more services are combined and sold as a single product at a
single price e.g transport and accommodation.
2Transport booked separately, not part of a package.
3Accommodation booked separately, not part of a package.
Table 13 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region of Residence, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
Border, Midland and Western1,5131,3751,3541,3741,456 214443455344 297363
Southern and Eastern5,4045,1395,2465,2055,220 9571,3981,7011,164 1,0401,565
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
Border, Midland and Western11,85312,04411,47010,78611,712 1,7343,2304,5262,222 1,9802,511
Southern and Eastern45,62141,97041,57641,29241,924 6,49110,23917,2747,919 7,43210,770
Table 13a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips & Number of Nights by Region
of Residence, 2010 - 2014
      '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Border627579535667556
Midland361294332237294
West524502487470606
Dublin2,4082,4532,4212,5132,620
Mid-East965849874832766
Mid-West464481452468388
South-East581509613538589
South-West987848887853858
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Border5,0445,1845,1925,5304,262
Midland2,9352,4162,3541,7802,484
West3,8734,4443,9233,4754,966
Dublin19,71919,37618,52019,46919,930
Mid-East8,7317,4856,6496,3816,082
Mid-West3,7543,9673,3643,5873,092
South-East5,1564,1805,3604,6604,932
South-West8,2626,9627,6847,1977,888
Table 14 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,929
Hotel 3,0112,7252,6882,8823,039 606802859772 698925
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,023 122279442179 163270
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,724 347453518405 386443
Other1955804873783891 97307337151 90290
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,282
Hotel 18,38916,17014,88415,71017,414 3,1834,3695,7994,063 3,2385,063
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,605 1,2522,7765,8871,690 1,9992,166
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,978 2,8143,3576,0592,748 3,2933,505
Other110,5718,9309,8448,7779,639 9762,9684,0551,639 8822,548
              
             Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.9
Hotel 6.15.95.55.55.7 5.35.46.75.3 4.65.5
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.3 10.29.913.39.4 12.28.0
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.7 8.17.411.76.8 8.57.9
Other111.111.111.311.210.8 10.19.712.010.8 9.88.8
1Other includes stays in Caravan/Camping, Guesthouse/B&B, Own Holiday Home, Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 14a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average
Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Caravan/Camping262160214207272
Guesthouse/B&B222206227176236
Own Holiday Home206188167202152
Hotel3,0112,7252,6882,8823,039
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,023
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,724
Other1264249264199231
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Caravan/Camping3,7791,8672,5472,4843,121
Guesthouse/B&B1,3641,4881,7999351,481
Own Holiday Home2,5583,0122,8493,1562,098
Hotel18,38916,17014,88415,71017,414
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,605
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,978
Other12,8702,5622,6492,2012,940
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
Caravan/Camping14.411.711.912.011.5
Guesthouse/B&B6.17.27.95.36.3
Own Holiday Home12.416.017.015.613.8
Hotel6.15.95.55.55.7
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.3
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.7
Other110.910.310.011.112.7
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 15 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
             € million
 201020112012220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.6
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.5 472.8886.61,403.6660.6 564.4985.6
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8 192.1204.0146.5204.1 187.4199.3
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3 186.3238.3292.5244.2 189.2203.9
Other1581.5576.4528.4455.2466.6 89.6141.1140.295.7 95.9120.9
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
2From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 15a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure
by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     € million
 201020112012220132014
Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.5
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3
Education & Training119.372.775.883.170.2
Sporting Events133.9134.5139.1124.2126.5
Work/Looking for work91.2108.8124.790.875.4
Other1237.2260.4188.8157.1194.4
1Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons
not elsewhere specified.
2From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports
in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 16 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by Country/Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q2 2015
            € million
 201020112012220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-Jun
Total Outbound - Trips5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.6
France500.6374.0463.9442.0468.6 70.0127.1207.863.7 65.3145.1
Germany142.6123.0118.697.8122.2 24.831.236.729.4 18.223.5
Italy351.8298.3315.5271.9281.9 23.9107.5125.425.1 45.9104.3
Portugal328.4274.0308.5262.6318.4 10.086.4175.546.5 18.389.9
Spain1,198.11,137.61,166.61,124.51,200.8 155.3328.3485.2232.0 167.2360.3
UK (Great Britain & Northern Ireland)984.7976.2926.7903.8972.1 192.1271.5293.3215.1 219.9231.5
                 Of which : Great Britain876.9907.6841.2836.4888.1 174.7250.5267.7195.2 204.0215.9
                                  Northern Ireland107.868.685.567.484.0 17.521.025.719.8 16.015.6
Other Europe1632.8647.8522.5588.6688.0 96.3203.1237.5151.0 116.4189.0
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8 184.9154.3282.4225.1 208.5207.3
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.9 89.175.168.8113.9 79.454.8
All other areas468.4459.5418.3567.2352.7 94.385.470.1102.9 97.9103.9
1All other EU member states and all other European countries.
2From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 16a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Total Estimated Expenditure by
Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
     € million
 201020112012120132014
Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2
EU23,901.53,628.63,674.23,504.13,880.8
Other Europe3237.4202.2148.1186.9171.1
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8
Central, South & Other Americas150.7127.3135.779.472.5
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.9
Africa182.6136.6104.7110.8128.1
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania135.1195.6178.0377.0152.2
1From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region
of €150m for the year.
2From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
3Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.

Background Notes

 

Reference Period

Annual/Quarterly.

Scope

Domestic and Outbound travel patterns which involve overnight stays of all residents of the Republic of Ireland.

Coverage

All private households.

Purpose

The purpose of the Household Travel Survey (HTS) is to measure domestic and outbound travel patterns involving overnight stays and associated details (expenditure, purpose of trip, type of accommodation used etc.) of Irish residents.  The survey is one of several Central Statistics Office (CSO) tourism surveys conducted to comply with the requirements of Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 concerning the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism for data to the end of 2011 and Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC in respect of data from the beginning of 2012.

Data Collection

Information is collected via postal survey of private households on a monthly basis by the Central Statistics Office.

Sample Design

The HTS is a random stratified sample. Each month, over 4,600 households (or approximately 0.3% of all private households) are randomly selected from the 2011 Electoral Register, where the selection is stratified by District Electoral Division.

A two stage weighting process is used for outbound travel. Firstly, survey household numbers are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (the number of persons aged 18 or over) and region (NUTS 3).  These household population estimates are provided by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS).  These weightings are then applied to survey results.  The results for outbound travel are subsequently further weighted to agree with the Tourism & Travel results.

Survey household numbers for domestic travel are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (the number of persons aged 18 or over) and region (NUTS 3). These household population estimates are provided by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS).  These weightings are then applied to survey results.

The sample size for some subcategories/breakdowns can be small and therefore caution should be taken when analysing this data.

 

Methodological Changes

The compilation of the HTS has undergone a number of methodological changes for data from 2010 onwards.

  • The recall period for trips taken has changed. Up to Quarter 4 2009, respondents were asked to detail all trips taken in the previous three months.  Since January 2010, respondents are asked to outline trips completed within the previous month only.
  • The methodology adopted to calibrate outbound travel data from the Household Travel Survey (HTS) to the frontier survey data has been changed from January 2010.  The CSO compiles outward travel by Irish residents from two separate sources: (1) the Tourism and Travel Survey (TTS), which is a frontier survey of Irish air and sea ports and (2) the HTS which is a postal survey.  While both of these surveys yield broadly comparable results, in order to avoid confusion, the aggregate results from the HTS are calibrated to match the totals on the TTS in respect of number of trips, bed nights and total expenditure.  As the HTS has a more disaggregated breakdown of subcategories, the breakdowns shown in this release are those compiled in the HTS. It should be noted that the breakdowns shown in this release can be quite different to those shown in the Tourism and Travel release – this is due to the different types of survey and data collection methods involved.
  • The methodology adopted to calibrate domestic travel from the Household Travel Survey (HTS) has been changed from January 2010. Previously, the calibration factor for outbound trips was also applied to domestic travel data. From January 2010 onwards this calibration factor is no longer applied to domestic travel data. This means that domestic travel survey household numbers are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (provided by the QNHS) only. These weightings are then applied to survey results.

 

Arising from these changes, a discontinuity in all of the series relating to outbound and domestic travel has occurred from 2010 onwards and therefore these results are not directly comparable with the results prior to 2010.

It should be noted that there are some differences between the Household Travel Survey and Tourism and Travel Survey:

  • The HTS includes travel to Northern Ireland while the TTS only includes overseas travel (it excludes travel to Northern Ireland).
  • The HTS only includes travel where there is at least one overnight stay while the TTS covers both same-day trips and overnight trips.

Definitions

Tourism

Means the activity of visitors taking a trip to a main destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal purpose, other than to be employed  by a resident entity in the place visited.

Usual Environment

The usual environment of an individual is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines.  Places that are frequently visited are part of a person’s usual environment even though they may be located at a considerable distance (or in another country) from the place of residence.

For the purposes of this release, trips taken on a weekly or more frequent basis are considered to be within a respondent’s usual environment and are thus excluded from estimates for tourism trips.  The one exception being that of holiday homes which although may be frequently visited, are considered outside the usual environment according to the UNWTO 2008 International Recommendations on Tourism Statistics (IRTS).

Trip

A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip.  A trip is made up of visits to different places.

Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism is defined as the activities of residents of the Republic of Ireland travelling to and staying in places only within the Republic of Ireland but outside their usual environment.

The following categories are excluded from the definition of domestic travel:

  • Residents travelling within the country with the intention of changing their usual residence.
  • Persons who travel to work temporarily in institutions within the country.
  • Persons who travel regularly or frequently between neighbouring localities to work or study.
  • Nomads and persons without fixed residence.
  • Armed forces on manoeuvre.

Outbound Tourism

Outbound tourism is defined as the activities of residents of the Republic of Ireland travelling to and staying in places outside the Republic of Ireland and outside their usual environment.  From 2012 onwards expenditure on outbound travel includes expenditure on car imports of approximately €150m per annum.

The following categories are excluded from outbound travel:

  • Persons leaving the country as migrants, including dependants accompanying or joining them.
  • Persons, known as border workers, residing near the border in the Republic of Ireland but working in the North of Ireland.
  • Diplomats, consular officers and members of the armed forces when travelling outside of the Republic of Ireland on assignment.  This includes dependants and household employees accompanying or joining them.
  • Persons travelling as refugees or nomads.

Overnight Visitor

An overnight visitor is a visitor who stays at least one night in collective or private accommodation in the place, county or country visited.

Tourism Expenditure (to the end of 2011)

Total consumption expenditure is any expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor during their trip and stay at their destination.

Tourism expenditure includes purchases of consumer goods and services inherent in travel and stay (eg. travel to, from and at destination, accommodation costs, food and drink, excursions), purchases of durable goods for personal use, souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

The following outlays or acquisitions are excluded:

  • Purchases for commercial purposes, for resale, purchases made on behalf of an employer during a business trip.
  • Capital type investments or transactions engaged in by visitors, such as land, housing or real estate, works of art and other important acquisitions (such as cars, caravans, boats, second houses), even though they may be used in the future for tourism travel purposes.
  • Cash given to relatives or friends during the trip, which does not represent payment of tourism goods or services, as well as donations made to institutions.

Tourism Expenditure (from 2012 onwards)

Total consumption expenditure is any expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor during their trip and stay at their destination.

Tourism expenditure includes purchases of consumer goods and services inherent in travel and stay (eg. travel to, from and at destination, accommodation costs, food and drink, excursions), purchases of durable goods for personal use, souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

Expenditure on valuables such as paintings, works of art, jewellery and on durable consumer goods such as cars, boats, mobile homes and caravans are also included.

The following outlays or acquisitions are excluded:

  • Purchases for commercial purposes, for resale, purchases made on behalf of an employer during a business trip.
  • Investments or transactions engaged in by visitors, such as land, housing or real estate.
  • Cash given to relatives or friends during the trip, which does not represent payment of tourism goods or services, as well as donations made to institutions.

Rounding

Individual figures have been rounded independently and the sum of the component items therefore may not necessarily add to the totals shown.

NUTS Regions

The regional classifications in this release are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat.  The NUTS 3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 and Regional Authorities Establishment Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994.  The NUTS 2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS 3 regions.  The composition of the regions is set out below.

Border, Midland and Western NUTS 2 Region   

Southern and Eastern NUTS 2 Region

Border Cavan Dublin Dublin City
  Donegal   Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown       
  Leitrim   Fingal
  Louth   South Dublin
  Monaghan    
  Sligo Mid-East Kildare
      Meath
Midland         Laois   Wicklow
  Longford    
  Offaly Mid-West Clare
  Westmeath   Limerick City
      Limerick
West Galway City   North Tipperary
  Galway    
  Mayo South-East          Carlow
  Roscommon                 Kilkenny
      South Tipperary
      Waterford City
      Waterford
      Wexford
       
    South-West Cork City
      Cork
      Kerry

 

   

EU includes the following countries:
Austria France Netherlands
Belgium Germany Poland
Bulgaria Greece Portugal
Croatia (from 1/7/2013) Hungary Romania
Cyprus Italy Slovakia
Czech Republic Latvia Slovenia
Denmark Lithuania Spain
Estonia Luxembourg Sweden
Finland Malta United Kingdom
 
 
Other Europe includes the following countries:
Aland Islands Iceland Norway
Albania Isle of Man Russian Federation
Andorra Jersey San Marino
Belarus Liechtenstein Serbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina                             Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of           Switzerland
Faroe Islands Moldova, Republic of Turkey
Gibraltar Monaco                                     Ukraine
Guernsey Montenegro Vatican City 

 

 

 

North America includes the following countries:
Canada
United States      
 
 
Central, South and Other Americas includes the following countries:
Anguilla Dominican Republic Nicaragua
Antigua and Barbuda Ecuador Panama
Argentina El Salvador Paraguay
Aruba Falkland Islands (Malvinas)                Peru
Bahamas French Guiana Puerto Rico
Barbados Greenland Saint Kitts and Nevis
Belize Grenada Saint Lucia
Bermuda Guadeloupe Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Bolivia Guatemala Saint Vincent & the Grenadines           
Brazil Guyana Suriname
Cayman Islands Haiti Trinidad and Tobago
Chile Honduras Turks and Caicos Islands
Colombia Jamaica Uruguay
Costa Rica Martinique Venezuela
Cuba Mexico Virgin Islands, British
Dominica                                       Montserrat                                   Virgin Islands, US                          

 

 

Asia and Middle East includes the following countries:
Afghanistan Japan Palestinian Territory, Occupied          
Armenia Jordan Philippines
Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Qatar
Bahrain Korea, Democratic People's Republic of             Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh Korea, Republic of Singapore
Bhutan Kuwait Sri Lanka
British Indian Ocean Territory             Kyrgyzstan Syrian Arab Republic
Brunei Darussalam Lao People's Democratic Republic Taiwan, Province of China
Cambodia Lebanon Tajikistan
China Macao Thailand
Georgia Malaysia Timor Leste
Hong Kong Maldives Turkmenistan
India Mongolia United Arab Emirates
Indonesia Myanmar Uzbekistan
Iran, Islamic Republic of Nepal Vietnam
Iraq Oman Yemen
Israel Pakistan  

 

 

Africa includes the following countries:
Algeria Gambia Rwanda
Angola Ghana Saint Helena
Benin Guinea Sao Tome and Principe
Botswana Guinea-Bissau              Senegal
Burkina Faso Kenya Seychelles
Burundi Lesotho Sierra Leone
Cameroon Liberia Somalia
Cape Verde Libya South Africa
Central African Republic Madagascar South Sudan
Chad Malawi Sudan
Comoros Mali Swaziland
Congo Mauritania Tanzania, United Republic of             
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the             Mauritius Togo
Cote d’Ivoire Mayotte Tunisia
Djibouti Morocco Uganda
Egypt Mozambique Western Sahara
Equatorial Guinea Namibia Zambia
Eritrea Niger Zimbabwe
Ethiopia Nigeria  
Gabon Reunion  

 

 

 

Australia, New Zealand and Oceania includes the following countries:
American Samoa Kiribati Samoa
Antarctica Marshall Islands Solomon Islands
Australia Micronesia, Federated States of            South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands        
Bouvet Island Nauru Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Christmas Island New Caledonia Tokelau
Cocos (Keeling) Islands New Zealand Tonga
Cook Islands Niue Tuvalu
Fiji Norfolk Island United States Minor Outlying Islands
French Polynesia Northern Mariana Islands Vanuatu
French Southern Territories Palau Wallis and Futuna
Guam Papua New Guinea  
Heard Island & McDonald Islands            Pitcairn  

 

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