Source: CSO

The CSO reported today that the number of Irish Visits abroad from April to June 2009 was 1,900,000, a decrease of 7% on the corresponding period in 2008. This is the first time since 1991 that the number of trips abroad by Irish residents has fallen on an annual basis
in the period April to June.

In the second Quarter of 2009, 1,902,000 Overseas Visits were made to Ireland compared with 2,159,000 in the same period of 2008, a decrease of 12%. Trips for the purpose of Holiday/Leisure/Recreation decreased by 20%.

The largest decrease in the number of Overseas Visits was by residents of both Great Britain and Other Areas, which decreased by 16%. The number of Visits by residents of Other European Countries decreased by 10% while visits by residents of USA and Canada fell by 2% compared to Q2 2008.

The expenditure figures for April - June 2009 show a net outflow of €468m.

Earnings from Visitors to Ireland accounted for €1,117m while expenditure by Irish Visitors Abroad amounted to €1,586m.

Year on year comparisons between 2008 and 2009 should take account of Easter occurring in Quarter 1 in 2008 and Quarter 2 in 2009.

The Tourism figuresalso show that:

The number of nights spent in Hotels decreased by 25%, while nights spent in Guesthouses decreased by 8% compared to the same period in 2008.

The average length of stay for Visits to Ireland increased to 9.0 nights compared to 7.6 in Q2 2008 while Irish Visits abroad averaged 8.5 nights.