Latest news with #EoghanCorry
Extra.ie
31-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Latest figures show concerning fall in tourism numbers
Tourism numbers have fallen – and the average visitor to Ireland is spending less, latest Government figures show. And an industry expert has warned we 'could be in deep trouble' as Ireland finds itself at the mercy of the US stock exchange. Some 654,500 foreign visitors arrived here last month, down 2% from June 2024, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Tourists leaving here last month also spent 5.5% less than they did last June, with a spend of €881.9million. Cobh, known from 1849 until 1920 as Queenstown, is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland.. The typical visitor spent €1,347 last month: €359 on their fare, €51 on prepayments, €447 on accommodation, and €490 on expenses. Last June, the average spend with fares was €1,437. However, the average number of nights visitors stayed rose from 7.3 nights to 7.9, an increase of 6%. Eoghan Corry said Trump's tariffs could pose a problem for our tourism. 'We are heavily dependent on the US stock exchange. The Americans spent a lot of money in Ireland and the ones who were holidaying here in June would have booked the trip a long time ago, before Trump was making tariff threats. 'Americans are very conscious of the stock exchange when it comes to their discretionary spending. We are at the mercy of the stock exchange and, God forbid, if anything major happens, tourism could be in deep trouble.' Tourism numbers have fallen – and the average visitor to Ireland is spending less, latest Government figures show. Pic: Getty Images He also said Ireland isn't recovering from the pandemic as quickly as other countries. 'The sector has only slowed down a little bit from 2024, but other European countries are seeing their sectors growing, so if the numbers are accurate, we are lagging behind. Overall numbers compared to before the pandemic are still 38% down. People are staying for more nights, but seem to be spending slightly less. 'These two factors could cancel each other out. Many in the industry would say these figures don't reflect what they see and that they may be even slightly busier,' he said. CSO figures show just under 300,000 tourists listed hotels as their main accommodation type, while 210,000 were staying with friends, relatives or in their own property. The greatest number of visitors last month came from the UK (34%), followed by Europe (31%), US (30%) and the rest of the world (5%). US visitors rose 5% compared to last year. UK tourists spent a relatively low amount last month at €118million (18% of expenditure), while continental Europe spent €200million (31%), US spent €283million (44%) and rest of the world spent €47million (7%).
RTÉ News
10-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Irish holidaymakers impacted by Italian baggage staff strike
Eoghan Corry, Travel Extra editor, discusses how the strike by baggage handlers at Italian airports will impact Irish holidaymakers.
Extra.ie
11-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Thousands of sunbeds removed from Majorca beaches amid local backlash
As Majorca tackles an anti-tourist backlash, almost 2,000 sun loungers are being removed from some of the island's most popular beaches, including the famous Playa de Palma. The move comes after local residents expressed frustration over overcrowded beaches, struggling to find space for their own towels amidst rows of pay-per-use loungers and umbrellas. Playa de Palma, a six-kilometre-long hotspot, has seen its sun lounger numbers cut significantly, from 6,000 in 2024 down to 4,436 in 2025, with further reductions planned for 2026. Pic:Other beaches like Cala Major and Cala Estància are also seeing sunbed and parasol numbers trimmed, while Cab Pere Antoni city beach is facing a drastic halving of its sun lounger availability. The changes come at a time when tensions between tourists over limited sunbathing spots have already been rising, as videos of holidaymakers vying for prime positions frequently surface on social media. Adding to the mix, there are plans to introduce more expensive 'Premium loungers' on Playa de Palma and Cala Major – but of course, at a cost. This crackdown on beach furniture is part of a wider anti-tourism campaign gaining momentum in Palma, with up to 60 organizations set to stage a large-scale protest in the city this week. Irish holidaymakers heading to Majorca this summer should prepare for fewer sun loungers and a changing beach experience. Elsewhere, Irish holidaymakers heading to Portugal this summer are being warned they could face fines of up to €1,800 for wearing bikinis or swimwear in the streets of Albufeira. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this week, Air and Travel magazine editor Eoghan Corry said locals have 'had enough' of what they view as disrespectful conduct by visitors. Beachgoers sunbathe and swim at Oura beach in Albufeira, Algarve region, Portugal. Pic: Getty 'What they've done is taken existing regulations, beefed them up a little, and introduced a few new ones. 'The main focus is on drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night.' Among the rules being more strictly enforced is a ban on wearing bikinis and swimwear away from the beach, with penalties starting at €500 and rising to as much as €1,800.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourists warned of €1,800 fines for wearing bikini in popular holiday spot
With more and more Irish tourists travelling to Portugal every year, a warning has been issued regarding new, stricter regulations in a popular holiday hotspot. New rules have been implemented in Albufeira with the aim of clamping down on rowdy tourist behaviour, especially on the weekends. Fines of between €500 and €1,800 will be issued to tourists for any behaviour deemed to be "boorish" because locals in the Portuguese city have simply "had enough." Eoghan Corry, editor of Air and Travel magazine, took to Newstalk to explain the harsher penalties, which will primarily focus on public intoxication but extends to the wearing of bikinis away from the beach. "What they've done is they've taken existing regulations and they've beefed them up a little bit and introduced a few new ones," Mr Corry explained. "The main thing that they're looking for is drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night. "Interestingly enough, a lot of the regulations will apply to people wearing bikinis and swimwear in the street." Tourists are said to be increasingly concerned about the clampdown, which will make it interesting to see how many Irish visitors travel to Portugal this summer after more than 500,000 took a trip to sunny Portugal in 2024, an increase of 6.3 per cent from the previous year. It is understood that similar regulations are being considered in other Portuguese holiday destinations but these have not yet been approved. It comes as locals continue to vent their frustration about drunken and disruptive behaviour late in the night and particularly at weekends in Albufeira. "The fines are large," Mr Corry added. "I think you're talking about €1,800 at the top end and starting at €500. "[Regarding] the level of enforcement, it does sound like Albufeira could be going the direction of Saudi Arabia but I doubt that's going to happen any time soon."
Extra.ie
09-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Irish tourists warned: Fines of up to €1,800 for wearing a bikini on streets of Albufeira
Irish holidaymakers heading to Portugal this summer are being warned they could face fines of up to €1,800 for wearing bikinis or swimwear in the streets of Albufeira. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Air and Travel magazine editor Eoghan Corry said locals have 'had enough' of what they view as disrespectful conduct by visitors. Beachgoers sunbathe and swim at Oura beach in Albufeira, Algarve region, Portugal. Pic: Getty 'What they've done is taken existing regulations, beefed them up a little, and introduced a few new ones. 'The main focus is on drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night.' Among the rules being more strictly enforced is a ban on wearing bikinis and swimwear away from the beach, with penalties starting at €500 and rising to as much as €1,800. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Pic: Shutterstock 'Locals just want to have their town in some form of functioning order at midnight,' he said. 'That you can actually walk the street without the madness that shows up a lot on social media – holidaymakers, not necessarily from Ireland, jumping on cars or carrying open drinks around.' More than 500,000 Irish tourists travel to Portugal each year, with many flocking to the Algarve region for its year-round sunshine and lively nightlife.
