Eoghan O'Mara Walsh: Tourism recovery remains sluggish at best

Statistics are pointing to six million international visitors for 2023 which is well shy of the 10m in the full year before the covid pandemic

Eoghan O'Mara Walsh: 'Airports may be busy, but numbers are inflated by Irish people travelling abroad.'

Perception can often be taken for reality when it comes to the wellbeing of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry. The narrative this year has often been that the sector is booming, however latest data would suggest otherwise.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has issued its September statistics on overseas visitor numbers, and they show the sector’s recovery is sluggish at best.