Inbound Tourism April 2026

Key Figures

Some 564,600 foreign residents completed their visits to Ireland in April 2026, a rise of 7% compared with April 2025. These visitors spent 3.9 million nights in Ireland, showing an increase of 14% with the same month in 2025. The visitors’ average length of stay was 6.9 nights, up 0.4 nights compared with April 2025. Visitors spent €431 million on their trips, up 15% compared with April 2025.

Departing Passenger Categories

In total, 1,928,400 passengers departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026, a 1% decrease compared with April 2025. The majority of departing passengers (61%) were Irish residents heading outbound for tourism or other purposes. A further 10% were same day visitors, comprising Northern Ireland residents heading outbound via an airport or seaport in Ireland (4%), foreign resident transfer passengers (4%), or other foreign resident same day visitors (1%). Some 29% of the departing passengers were foreign resident overnight visitors, constituting 564,600 visitors in total. The remainder of this release focuses exclusively on the characteristics and activities of these foreign resident overnight visitors, referred to simply as foreign visitors.

Detailed Residency

Of the 564,600 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026, an estimated 218,000 were residents of Great Britain, while a further 104,300 were residents of the United States, and 41,700 were residents of Germany. 

Nights in Ireland

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026 spent a total of 3,902,800 nights in the country. Broken down by residency, Other European visitors (i.e. European overseas visitors excluding Great Britain) spent more nights in the country than any other residency group, accounting for 1,487,300 (38%) of the nights. The next most important visitor group, in terms of nights spent, was Great Britain making up 1,053,900 (27%) of the total nights. Visitors from North America, were the third most important, accounting for a further 1,033,200 (26%) of the nights. Visitors from other residencies accounted for 328,400 (8%) nights.

Reason for Visit

Among the 564,600 foreign visitors departing Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026, more had come for the purpose of a Holiday than for any other reason. Some 233,400 (41%) stated that visiting for Holiday was the main reason for their trip. The next most common reason was for visiting Relatives & Friends, with 203,900 (36%) of the visitors coming for this purpose. A further 85,900 (15%) of the visitors had come for business or work-related reasons.

Accommodation

Among the 564,600 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026, some 249,200 (44%) stayed in a hotel as their main accommodation type. Another 222,700 (39%) of the visitors stayed in their own property or with family as their main accommodation type. Some 37,100 (7%) of the foreign visitors used rented/self-catering as their main accommodation type.

Expenditure

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in April 2026 spent an estimated €431 million, excluding fares, on their trips, an increase of 15% compared with April 2025.

The total amount spent by foreign visitors (including fares) was €586 million. Broken down by expense category, the costliest subheading was day-to-day spending (incidental expenditures incurred during their visit such as eating out, entrance fees, public transport, etc., but excluding accommodation), amounting to €230 million. The next costliest subheading was accommodation at €188 million. Fare costs were an estimated €154 million, while prepayments (items paid in advance, such as car hire, pre-booked tickets, etc.) were estimated at €14 million.