Latest Tourism Figures Indicate Slowdown in US Visitor Numbers

Latest inbound tourism numbers indicate a slowdown in US visitor figures, leading Tourism Ireland to say it is working hard at attracting more visitor source markets around the world.

New monthly figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show 590,700 visitors in September, down 2% year-on-year. However, visitors stayed longer than in the same month last year and spent more, with tourist spend up 4% year-on-year at €595m.

The first nine months of the year period - which, typically, amounts to around 76% of total overseas visitor spend for the year -shows positivity, with visitor numbers up 9%, year-on-year. Growth was seen across all major source markets – mainland Europe up 17%, Britain up 11%, North America up 8% and rest of the world up 3%.

But, outside of Ireland’s control, new data from the US Trade Department shows emerging evidence of a slowdown in numbers of American citizens travelling abroad for holidays.

Tourism Ireland said Ireland is still punching above its weight in attracting US visitors, but is not immune to such a slowdown.

Tourism Ireland said: "Tourism Ireland is stimulating tourism demand this autumn. The organisation welcomed the NBC TODAY show from the US earlier in October, autumn and Home of Halloween campaigns are live, supporting off-season demand and bookings. It is an important time to remain top of mind in this valuable tourism market.

"Tourism Ireland continues to focus on diverse markets and welcomes balanced growth from market regions this year. The organisation’s European strategy has been activated, with campaigns illustrating easy connectivity and year-round breaks to ‘plus one’ more location, attraction or region – playing to the insight that Europeans see the island of Ireland as a second or third break, where ease of access and on-island travel matters.

"Great Britain year to date has provided the highest number of overseas visitors (almost 2 million); it is positive to see strength in demand from Britain, as these are visitors who are twice as likely to return to Ireland as visitors from other markets. Looking to the future, Tourism Ireland is also highlighting air connectivity from China, including the China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai to Dublin, launched this summer."

Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “Year to date, January to September 2026, we have seen 5.3 million overseas visitors bringing €4.6 billion in spend to Ireland, marking an increase in both visitors and spend relative to the same nine-month period of 2025. Notwithstanding this trend, we know there are mixed experiences of tourism performance on the ground. There was some softening in September from North America and there are headwinds in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, as jet fuel pricing influences air fares and connectivity, as well as consumers' cost of living.

“We know there is global uncertainty right now, with consumers seeking greater reassurance. Macro-economic volatility around oil, gas and jet fuel pricing will affect both businesses and consumers. The good news is that the desire to travel remains strong and we know from our latest consumer research that 66% of potential overseas visitors are prioritising spend on holidays as ‘worth it’, so the opportunity is there to win these visitors to the island of Ireland between now and year end.

“There are 46,000 tourism businesses in Ireland, >50,000 island wide, and 6 out of 10 euros in the tourism economy are brought in by overseas visitors specifically.  Tourism Ireland is working closely with air and sea carriers, tour operators, online travel platforms, our travel trade partners in overseas markets and industry partners at home, to continue to generate demand, win visitors and keep our connections to the world strong.