Inbound Tourism August 2026

Key Figures

Some 788,700 foreign residents completed their visits to Ireland in August 2026, a rise of 2% compared with August 2025. These visitors spent 6.6 million nights in Ireland, showing a decrease of 2% with the same month in 2025. The visitors’ average length of stay was 8.3 nights, down from 8.6 nights in August 2025. Visitors spent €729 million on their trips, down 2% compared with August 2025.

Departing Passenger Categories

In total, 2,432,100 passengers departed Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026, a 1% increase compared with August 2025. The majority of departing passengers (56%) were Irish residents heading outbound for tourism or other purposes. A further 11% were same day visitors, comprising Northern Ireland residents heading outbound via an airport or seaport in Ireland (4%), foreign resident transfer passengers (5%), or other foreign resident same day visitors (1%). Of the departing passengers, 788,700 were foreign-resident overnight visitors, accounting for 32% of all visitors. 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 788,700 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026, an estimated 283,200 were residents of Great Britain, while a further 171,100 were residents of the United States, and 55,300 were residents of Germany.

Nights in Ireland

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026 spent a total of 6,559,000 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 2,437,300 (37%) of the nights. The next most important visitor group, in terms of nights spent, was North America making up 1,745,800 (27%) of the total nights. Visitors from Great Britain, were the third most important, accounting for a further 1,725,200 (26%) of the nights. Visitors from other residencies accounted for 650,600 (10%) nights.

Reason for Visit

Among the 788,700 foreign visitors departing Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026, more had come for the purpose of a Holiday than for any other reason. Some 399,300 (51%) stated that visiting for Holiday was the main reason for their trip. The next most common reason was for visiting Relatives & Friends, with 259,100 (33%) of the visitors coming for this purpose. A further 63,000 (8%) of the visitors had come for business or work-related reasons.

Accommodation

Among the 788,700 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026, 309,700 (39%) stayed in a hotel as their main accommodation type. Another 288,500 (37%) of the visitors stayed in their own property or with family as their main accommodation type. Around 59,800 (8%) of the foreign visitors used rented/self-catering as their main accommodation type.

Expenditure

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in August 2026 spent an estimated €729 million, excluding fares, on their trips, a decrease of 2% compared with August 2025.

The total amount spent by foreign visitors (including fares) was €989 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) at €372 million. The next costliest spend was on accommodation at €324 million. Fare costs were an estimated €261 million, while prepayments (items paid in advance, such as car hire, pre-booked tickets, etc.) were estimated at €33 million.