Latest Inbound Tourism Figures Indicate 'Softening' Market, ITIC Warns
Tourism chiefs have warned of a softening in the inbound tourism market in the run-up to Budget 2027, which is published by the Government next week.
Latest monthly figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show a rise in the total number of overseas visitors to Ireland in August. However, crucially, there were percentage drops against the key metrics of length of stay, amount of money spent and visitors from North America.
The CSO measured 788,700 inbound visitors in August – up 2% year-on-year. Year to date overnight visitor numbers are now up 11%, like-for-like, at 4.7 million.
However, August saw a 2% year-on-year dip in foreign visitor spend, at €729m and a 2% drop in duration stay to 6.6 million nights.
There was also only moderate growth from our largest visitor source market of Great Britain, while North American visitor numbers were in decline.
The biggest jump in visitor numbers came from mainland Europe, with a 9% increase. Britain at 36% remains our biggest source market for visitors; followed by mainland Europe (34%) and North America at 25%, with rest of the world at 5%.
The August data suggests a “softening” in the inbound market conditions, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) said.
ITIC chief executive, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, said: "The first month with a negative against it for that key North American market. Certainly, growth has softened as the year has progressed.
"Budget 2027 will be important to support Irish tourism, the country's largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer."
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