Fewer Europeans visiting Ireland but more tourists from other areas

The numbers of European travellers holidaying in Ireland continued to fall this summer but people coming from further afield made more trips to Irish shores.

There was a modest increase in the number of trips to Ireland from North America and other non-European countries during the month of June, figures show.

But despite the extra few thousand tourists from long distance destinations making trips here, the number of tourists holidaying in Ireland from Britain and Europe continues to decline.

Overall the number of trips here in June this year fell by 5.7% or just more than 36,000 compared to the same time last year, Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures show.

The number of visitors from North America was slightly up, by 1,700 or 1.4%, but those coming from Britain were down by nearly 8,000, or 3%, compared to last year.

The number of travellers coming from ‘Other Areas’, including Asia and Africa, was slightly up with an extra 1,400 tourists during the month.

Tourism Ireland admitted the year had been extremely difficult for the industry. But chief executive Niall Gibbons also added a note of optimism: “It is important to remember that with the later-than-ever booking trend means that there is still business out there to be won – more than 50% of holidaymakers arrive here between July and December – and Tourism Ireland and industry partners are out in all our major markets right now fighting for business.”

But figures for June also showed a substantial fall in the numbers of Europeans holidaying on Irish shores, with a drop of 31,700 or some 14.4% compared to 2009.

Despite this Tourism Ireland said its message to the continent and further afield was that visiting here was never better than now.

Mr Gibbons added: “Tourism Ireland’s message right now in the US, in Mainland Europe as well as in Britain, is that there’s never been a better time to visit the island of Ireland, focusing on the excellent value available from the industry and on the wonderful things to do and see here.”

Meanwhile, recession-hit Irish travellers are heading abroad in less and less numbers, the CSO figures also reveal. Irish trips overseas fell by nearly 53,000 in June or 7.4% compared to last year.