Visitors to Ireland spend 6pc less in June
The average length of stay was 7.9 nights, up from an average of 7.3 in June 2024. This meant the total number of visitor nights, at 5.2 million, was up 6pc year-on-year.
Tourists are spending less, however. The average cost of their trips, not including fares, was €988 in June. This compared to €1,022 in the same month last year. The total spend of €647m was 6pc down.
The Irish Hotels Federation, which represents over 900 hotels and guesthouses, expressed serious concern about the drop in spending. 'While our own industry data indicates that occupancy rates for hotels are on a par with last year, we are seeing a softening in revenue and room prices,' its chief executive, Paul Gallagher, said.
'This appears to be part of a wider decline in tourism spend so far this year as indicated by recent CSO figures.'
He said that if this weakness continues through the summer, it will pose a significant challenge for tourism businesses, which are already struggling with higher operating costs. Mr Gallagher noted that the economic challenges in Ireland's key source markets are another headwind facing the sector.
Separate research by Failte Ireland has found that 51pc of tourism businesses are seeing a decrease in revenues this year. Mr Gallagher said that the dip in spending by overseas visitors, which usually accounts for 70pc of all tourism revenue, is a particular concern, especially for food and drink businesses.
The CSO data shows that visitors from Britain accounted for 18pc of the spend, at €118m. Continental European visitors spent €200m, and those from North America accounted for €283m.
One in three visitors to Ireland last month came from Britain, while one in four came from the United States. Compared with June 2024, visitor numbers from Britain fell by 1pc and from Continental Europe by 6pc, but numbers from North America were up 5pc.
Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, the chief executive of the Irish Tourism Confederation, has also noted that the North American market is doing well this year, while some European markets are 'soft', as is the domestic market.
"A lot of Irish people are holidaying abroad rather than holidaying at home,' Mr O'Mara Walsh told RTE Radio. 'Overall, it is a pretty challenging year for the Irish tourism sector.'
The CSO data is based on a monthly survey of about 13,000 departing passengers at the country's international ports and airports. The agency says the data is calibrated against passenger flow data provided by the transport hubs.
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