€4.2bn spent on holidays in 2004

A MASSIVE increase in US shopping trips and European holidays resulted in Irish holidaymakers spending a massive €4.2 billion on holidays last year.

This is €109 million more that the 6.6 million visitors to Ireland spent in 2004.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office show that for only the second year ever, Ireland Inc was a net loser in tourism spending in 2004 with a net loss of €109m (2003: €101m). In 2000, Ireland Inc had a net gain of €832m from tourism.