Holidays abroad soar despite economic slump

THE almost daily reminders that the Irish economy is in the doldrums have not discouraged the public from treating themselves to holidays abroad, according to figures.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) statistics show that Irish residents took 1,218,000 holidays in the first quarter of 2008 — an 18.7% increase on the corresponding period last year. They also increased the length of their stays.

The CSO figures show the public spent 8,821,000 nights holidaying abroad in the first three months of 2008, a 25% increase on the same period last year.