Card-based visitor spending hits €800m

Irish businesses are being urged to keep up-to-date with payment technology trends with card-based spending by overseas visitors nudging the €800m mark this year.

A 6.4% rise in the number of tourists visiting Ireland during 2013, to over 5.4 million, has had the expected positive knock-on effect on the economy.

According to new figures from payment technology giant, Visa, spending by overseas visitors using its card products alone — be it via debit, credit or pre-paid cards — rose by 21%, to €794m, in the 12 months to the end of September.