Year to forget for tourism as visitors fall by 15%

IRISH tourism experienced an “annus horribilis” in 2010, with a 15% fall in visitors — the poorest performing tourist season in over a decade.

The combined effect of the contraction of the overseas and domestic markets meant overall revenue declined by 13% to €4.6 billion.

Fáilte Ireland said the downturn in overseas visitor numbers to 5.6 million had led to a 14% decline in revenue to €3.3 billion, which meant Irish tourism had fallen back to levels last experienced in 1998.