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Some 578,100 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in September 2024, a decrease of 0.7% compared with September 2023.
The largest contingent of visitors (32.3%) came from Great Britain, followed by the United States (24.5%), and Germany (8.3%).
The visitors stayed a total of 4.5 million nights in the country, down of 3.2% when compared with September 2023.
The visitors' most frequent reason (47.4%) for travelling to Ireland was for holiday or leisure.
The visitors spent €915.6 million in total on their trips, up 14.4% when compared with September 2023.
The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 7.8 nights, down from an average of 8.0 nights in September 2023.
The Inbound Tourism series is a new statistical series based on an updated sampling methodology and data collection process. For more information, including an update on the implementation of the new series, see Background Notes for more details.
Foreign visitors in the context of this release refers to overseas residents who have stayed at least one night in Ireland. These overseas residents include both Irish and non-Irish nationals but specifically exclude residents of Northern Ireland.
Foreign visitors who depart Ireland via the airports and seaports of Northern Ireland are not captured in the survey.
Some 578,100 foreign residents completed their visits to Ireland in September 2024, a decrease of 0.7% compared with September 2023. These visitors had spent 4.5 million nights in Ireland, a decrease of 3.2% compared with the same month in 2023. The visitors’ average length of stay was 7.8 nights, down 0.2 nights from September 2023. The visitors expended €915.6 million on their trips, an increase of 14.4% compared with September 2023. The average cost of their trips in September 2024 was €1,584, whereas their average cost 12 months previously was €1,375.
| Inbound Tourism, September 2024 versus September 2023 | ||||
| Sep-23 | Sep-24 | Change | ||
| Visitors ('000s) | 582.1 | 578.1 | -4.0 | -0.7% |
| Nights ('000s) | 4,649.8 | 4,502.9 | -146.9 | -3.2% |
| Average length of stay (nights) | 8.0 | 7.8 | -0.2 | -2.5% |
| Expenditure (€million) | 800.1 | 915.6 | 115.5 | 14.4% |
| Mean expenditure (€) | 1,375 | 1,584 | 209 | 15.2% |
| X-axis label | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 400 | 451.9 |
| Feb | 337 | 433.3 |
| Mar | 425.2 | 521.8 |
| Apr | 461.9 | 549.1 |
| May | 573.3 | 622.3 |
| Jun | 619.9 | 669.5 |
| Jul | 650.2 | 655.4 |
| Aug | 737.6 | 763.6 |
| Sep | 582.1 | 578.1 |
| Oct | 577.4 | |
| Nov | 447.5 | |
| Dec | 445.2 |
In total, 2,002,300 passengers departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024, an increase of 4.8% compared with September 2023. The majority of departing passengers (61.7%) were Irish residents heading outbound for tourism or other purposes. A further 9.5% were same day visitors, comprising Northern Ireland residents heading outbound via an airport or seaport in the Republic of Ireland (3.7%), foreign resident transfer passengers (4.8%), or other foreign resident same day visitors (1.0%). Some 28.9% of the departing passengers were foreign resident overnight visitors, constituting 578,100 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).
Of the 578,100 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024, the highest proportion (32.3%) was from Great Britain, accounting for 186,700 of the visitors in total. The second highest proportion (24.5%) was from the United States, accounting for 141,800 visitors. The third highest proportion (8.3%) came from Germany comprising a further 48,200 visitors. By way of comparison, in September 2023 there were 205,900 visitors from Great Britain, 117,400 from the United States, and 46,800 from Germany.
Foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024 spent a total of 4,502,900 nights in the country. Broken down by residency, the United States of America & Canada visitors spent more nights in the country than any other residency group, accounting for 1,442,300 (32.0%) of the nights. The next most important visitor group, in terms of nights spent, was Other Europe, making up 1,437,900 (31.9%) of the total nights. Visitors from Great Britain were third most important, accounting for a further 992,300 (22.0%) of the nights. Other visitors made up 630,500 (14.0%) of the nights. Compared with September 2023, the total visitor nights in the country fell by 3.2%. The average length of stay also fell, from 8.0 nights in September 2023 to 7.8 nights in September 2024.
Among the 578,100 foreign visitors departing Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024, more had come to holiday than for any other reason. Some 274,000 (47.4%) had holiday or leisure as the main reason for their trip. The next most likely reason was to visit family or friends, with 164,700 (28.5%) of the visitors coming for this purpose. A further 86,100 (14.9%) of the visitors had come for business or work-related reasons. Compared with September 2023, visitors for holiday or leisure decreased by 0.6% whilst those visiting family or friends and visiting for business or work both fell by 10.8%.
Among the 578,100 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024, some 275,900 (47.7%) stayed in a hotel. Another 197,900 (34.2%) of the visitors had used family/friend or their own property as their main accommodation type. A further 41,100 (7.1%) of the visitors used rented/self-catering as their main accommodation type, while 35,200 (6.1%) of the foreign visitors used guest house/bed & breakfast as their main accommodation type. By way of comparison, in September 2023 some 269,900 visitors stayed in a hotel, 210,100 stayed in their own property or the property of family or friends, 46,900 used guest house/bed & breakfast, and 28,200 stayed in rented/self-catering accommodation types.
Foreign visitors to Ireland who departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024 spent a total of €915.6 million on their trips (an increase of 14.4% compared with September 2023).
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 €324.7 million (35.5% of the total expenditure). The next costliest subheading was accommodation at €303.5 million (33.1% of the total). Fares cost a further €238.7 million (26.1% of the total). Lastly, prepayments (items paid in advance, such as car hire, pre-booked tickets, etc.) comprised just €48.8 million (5.3% of the total).
Overall, in September 2024 the typical foreign visitor spent €1,584 on their trip to Ireland, breaking down as €413 on their fare, €84 on prepayments, €525 on accommodation, and €562 on day-to-day expenses. In September 2023 the comparable mean expenditure on these items was €344, €58, €485, and €488 respectively.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (30 October 2024) released Inbound Tourism September 2024.
Commenting on the release, Gregg Patrick, Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division, said:
“The results show that 578,100 foreign visitors departed Ireland on overseas routes in September 2024, a decrease of 0.7% compared with September 2023.
Some 32.3% of the visitors were from Great Britain, 24.5% were from the United States, and 8.3% were from Germany.
Typically, their visit lasted 7.8 nights and the total spent on their trips was up 14.4% to €915.6 million in September 2024 when compared with the same month in 2023.
The most frequent reason for their journey (47.4%) was for holiday or leisure purposes.
More of the visitors stayed in hotels (47.7%) than in any other accommodation type, and the typical cost of their visit was €1,584, which comprised of €413 on fares, €84 on prepayments, €525 on accommodation, and €562 on day-to-day expenditure.”