Rise in number of Irish taking foreign holidays
The total number of foreign visitors to Ireland last year rose by 3.2% to a record 6,574,5000 an increase of over 205,000 people on 2003 figures.
However, the number of Irish residents holidaying abroad also reached record levels in 2004 with over 5.4 million overseas trips recorded representing an increase of almost 10%.
Although Ireland had fewer foreign visitors in the key tourist months of July and August compared to the previous year, a strong performance in the low season period ensured overall growth was maintained.
Visitors from outside Europe provided the main growth with the number of tourists from North America up 8%.
Although the total number of tourists from continental Europe rose by almost 7%, visitors from Britain the largest single market for Irish tourism fell by 1% to 3,680,600.
Reacting to the new figures from the CSO, Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue welcomed the fact that overseas trips to Ireland had reached record levels in 2004 against a background of tough international competition.
However, Mr O'Donoghue stressed that 2004 would be remembered as a year of mixed fortunes for the tourism industry.
He noted that B&Bs and guesthouses were under particular pressure during 2004.
He also remarked that regional performance was also mixed with tourists concentrating on visiting the major urban centres to the detriment of more rural areas.
