Inbound Tourism January 2026

Key Figures

Some 429,800 foreign residents completed their visits to Ireland in January 2026, an increase of 27% compared with January 2025. These visitors spent 3.6 million nights in Ireland, showing an increase of 27% with the same month in 2025. The visitors’ average length of stay was 8.3 nights, down 0.1 nights compared with January 2025. Visitors spent €287 million on their trips, up 34% compared with January 2025.

Departing Passenger Categories

In total, 1,466,200 passengers departed Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026, a 13% increase compared with January 2025. The majority of departing passengers (62%) were Irish residents heading outbound for tourism or other purposes. A further 8% 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 429,800 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 429,800 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026, an estimated 184,600 were residents of Great Britain, while a further 53,600 were residents of the United States, and 26,500 were residents of Germany. 

Nights in Ireland

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026 spent a total of 3,586,700 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 1,257,100 (35%) of the nights. The next most important visitor group, in terms of nights spent, was Great Britain making up 1,021,700 (28%) of the total nights. Other visitors, excluding North America, were the third most important, accounting for a further 684,500 (19%) of the nights. Visitors from North America made up 623,400 (17%) of the nights. 

Reason for Visit

Among the 429,800 foreign visitors departing Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026, more had come to visit friends and relatives than for any other reason. Some 197,000 (46%) stated that visiting friends and relatives as the main reason for their trip. The next most common reason was for holiday, with 128,800 (30%) of the visitors coming for this purpose. A further 76,500 (18%) of the visitors had come for business or work-related reasons.

Accommodation

Among the 429,800 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026, some 213,000 (50%) stayed in their own property or with family as their main accommodation type. Another 169,200 (39%) of the visitors stayed in a hotel as their main accommodation type. Some 15,600 (4%) of the foreign visitors used rented/self-catering as their main accommodation type.

Expenditure

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in January 2026 spent an estimated €287 million, excluding fares, on their trips (an increase of 34% compared with January 2025).

The total amount spent by foreign visitors (including fares) was €396 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 €184 million. The next costliest subheading was fare at €109 million. Accommodation costs were an estimated €97 million, while prepayments (items paid in advance, such as car hire, pre-booked tickets, etc.) were estimated at €7 million.