Source: CSO

In the fourth quarter of 2009, 1,446,000 overseas trips were made to Ireland compared with 1,665,000 in the same period of 2008, this represented a decrease of 13%. Business trips decreased by 30%, while trips spent visiting friends/relatives increased by 5%, according to the Central Statistics Office ((CSO).

The number of trips abroad by Irish residents during the period October to December 2009 was 1,473,000, a decrease of 10% on the corresponding period in 2008. Trips for holiday/leisure/recreation purposes fell by the largest amount, a decrease of 136,000 (-15%). Overseas trips on transatlantic routes decreased by 35% while trips on sea cross-channel routes grew by 4%

The expenditure figures for October - December 2009 show a net outflow of €506m. Earnings from visitors to Ireland accounted for €746m, while expenditure by Irish visitors abroad amounted to €1,251m. The Tourism figures in this release also show that between the fourth quarter of2008 and the fourth quarter of 2009:

The number of nights spent in Ireland by overseas visitors decreased by 10%. However, the average length of stay increased marginally to 7.3 nights.

The number of nights spent by overseas visitors in rented houses/apartments fell by 21%, while nights spent in hotels decreased by 19%.

Residents from Great Britain spent 30% less nights in hotels and 49% less nights in guest houses/B&Bs, but spent 23% more nights visiting friends/relatives.