Latest news with #foreignVisitors
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Tourism slump continues - April data shows decline in visitor numbers
Latest tourism numbers point to a continuing decline in inbound visitors, a worrying trend for businesses in the sector. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), over half a million tourists (528,100) completed trips to Ireland in April, spending approximately €375 million on their trips, excluding air fares. But the headline number was down 4 per cent on the same month last year while spending decreased more than 10 per cent. The figures continue a downward trend in foreign visitor numbers that first emerged last September, a pattern that has raised some eyebrows in the trade which has said it does not necessarily fit with on-the-ground experience. READ MORE [ Is tourism really in crisis? Opens in new window ] [ Tourism bosses meet CSO in debate over visitor numbers Opens in new window ] Global tourist markets have struggled to recover from the pandemic and uncertainty around US trade policy and the associated volatility on stock markets may now be playing into the trend. Tourism is one of Ireland's largest indigenous industries, employing 257,900 people. The CSO noted 'the largest contingent' of visitors came from Britain (41 per cent) followed by visitors from the United States (18 per cent). The main reason for travelling to Ireland was for holiday (40 per cent) followed by visiting friends or family (38 per cent). More visitors stayed with family or in their own property (42 per cent) than in any other accommodation type, and the typical visit lasted 6.5 nights, the CSO indicated. A geographical breakdown of the figures showed that visitors from Britain were up 2 per cent compared with April 2024, while visitors from all other areas were down. Visitors from continental Europe were down 8 per cent while visitors from North America were down 1 per cent. When compared with April 2023, visitors from Britain were up 13 per cent while those from the US, continental Europe and the rest of the world were up 8 per cent, 28 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. Visitors from Britian accounted for €96 million (26 per cent) of total €375 million spend, Continental Europe for €134 million (36 per cent), North America for €121 million (32 per cent), and visitors from the rest of the world for €25 million (7 per cent).
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Thailand records 1.75% y/y drop in foreign visitors so far in 2025
BANGKOK, May 20 (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign tourist arrivals from January 1 to May 18 fell 1.75% from the same period a year earlier, the Tourism Ministry said on Tuesday. There were about 13.4 million foreign visitors in the period, it said in a statement. China was the largest source market, with 1.83 million visitors. On Monday, the National Economic and Social Development Council cut its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals this year to 37 million from 38 million. There was a record of nearly 40 million visitors in 2019, before the pandemic.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Alibaba's Amap offers ride-hailing function catering to foreign visitors in China
Amap , the mapping and local services business under Alibaba Group Holding , has introduced a ride-hailing feature on the platform's English version, allowing foreign visitors in mainland China to get transport in more than 360 domestic cities. The new feature, which comes months after Amap's English-language version was launched in February, is accessible via a button on the homepage. Initially, the app will accept users' registered mainland, Hong Kong and Macau phone numbers. The new Amap feature reflects the private sector's support for China's visa-free travel scheme , which allows visitors from 43 countries to stay for up to 30 days on the mainland. The scheme also allows citizens from dozens of other countries to spend 240 hours on the mainland during transit. The Amap sign is seen at the company's headquarters in Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock During the Labour Day 'golden week' holiday from May 1 to 5, some 380,000 foreign visitors entered the mainland visa-free, up 73 per cent from a year earlier, according to data from the National Immigration Administration.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
All the times tourists have angered the King's Guard - and the real reason for their severe reaction
For many, a trip to London is not complete without a visit to see the Changing of the Guard. While some tourists from foreign countries arguably are unaware of the custom and the job of the King's Guard, others deliberately taunt and tease them in the hope of a reaction.
