Visitor numbers up almost 10%

Central Statistics Office figures have shown an increase of 9.4% in overseas visits to Ireland for the first eight months of 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.

At over 5.2 million visits, overall trips to Ireland were up 9.4% in the first eight months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

For the three-month period from June to August 2014, overseas trips to Ireland increased by 9.7%.

Visits from Mainland Europe grew by 7.4% for January to August 2014, to 1,837,900 visits and by 11.2% for the June to August period.

North America registered an increase of 13.4% for January – August 2014 (915,500 visits) and of 18% in the June – August 2014 period;

Visits from Great Britain were up by 8.8% for January – August 2014 (2,120,500 visits) and by 3.5% for the three months from June to August 2014 compared to the corresponding period of 2013.

Visits from the rest of the world (mostly long-haul and developing markets) totalled 326,800 for the first eight months of 2014 (representing an increase of 14.7%) and increased by 13.4% for the three months from June to August alone.

Commenting on the figures from Boston, Minister Donohoe stated “The figures today cover the first eight months of 2014 including the peak tourism months of June, July and August.

"Thankfully the figures confirm an excellent summer period for Irish tourism with all of our main overseas markets showing good growth levelst."