Summer tourism up a sunny 10%

The number of overseas visitors to Ireland grew by almost 10% over the summer, matching an increase in tourism numbers since the start of the year, according to figures released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office.

Between June and August of this year, the total number of trips taken by foreign tourists to Ireland increased by 9.7% to 2,484,000 — an overall hike of 219,200 compared to the same period last year.

Most of the growth came from the US and Canada, CSO statistics show.

Trips by North America residents to Ireland were up 18% to 516,700 while trips by residents of Britain increased by 3.5% to 910,500.

Trips by residents of European countries other than Britain rose by 11.2% to 883,700 while trips to Ireland from other areas increased by 13.4% to 173,100.

The latest figures also show more Irish people are travelling abroad. The total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents during the period June to August of this year increased by 1.9% to 2,180,700.

The total number of trips to Ireland increased by 9.4% for the period January-August 2014 when compared with the same period in 2013.

Tourism figures have also improved north of the border. According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), total overseas visitors to Northern Ireland for the first quarter of 2014 grew by 4%, compared to the same period last year

Overseas holidaymakers to Northern Ireland were up 13% for the first quarter of 2014 with visitors from Britain up 15%.