Tourism Ireland comment on overseas tourism figures for January-October 2024

CSO data published today shows spend by overseas visitors coming to Ireland continues to increase. From January to the end of October 2024, Ireland has welcomed 5.79 million visitors, up +8% compared to the same period of 2023, spending €5.38 billion, up +15% compared to the same period of 2023.

Alongside year-to-date numbers, CSO now publishes monthly data. In October, overseas visitors spent €535 million, an increase of almost +4% over October last year, with Mainland Europe and North America driving positive growth in spend coming into the tourism economy.  

In volume terms, Ireland welcomed 548,000 visitors in October, -5% compared to October 2023. The decrease in volume was driven by a softening in the number of visitors from Great Britain particularly (-13% compared to October 2023). There was a slight dip in visitor numbers from North America (-3%), keeping in mind that October was the month directly prior to the US election. Mainland Europe was the October success story across all parameters, seeing growth in spend (+22%), visitors (+3%) and bednights (+15%), compared to October 2023.

Of the visitors across markets who came to Ireland in October, they spent on average +9% more per trip than last year and their length of stay was stable and slightly up on October 2023.

Challenges in volumes of visitors may persist through the winter, with air seat capacity to the island at 99% the level of winter 2023. While regional and Northern Ireland airports are showing strong growth, Dublin – as the largest airport – has 96% of the seat capacity it had in winter 2023, due to the airport cap applied this winter. While there is a ‘hold’ for legal consideration of the airport cap for summer 2025, there is still impact from applying the cap in winter 2024. Island wide, air seat capacity for the winter from Great Britain has dipped to 97% the level of 2023 and from North America to 96% of the level of 2023.  

Alice Mansergh, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said:“It is positive to see that overseas tourism spend so far in 2024 has grown +15% compared to the same period in 2023, with Mainland Europe, Great Britain and North America all demonstrating revenue growth. This growth is vital for the tourism industry, at a time when cost inflation means margins are tight, and we’re proud to support demand growth through our overseas marketing. October as a standalone month grew also in terms of overseas tourism spend compared to October 2023, at almost +4%, but there are some visible challenges or risks to navigate that show up in this month’s data. Visitors in October spent +9% more per trip, and while almost 550,000 visitors chose to come to Ireland, this was -5% fewer than in October 2023, driven by a softening from Great Britain and the first dip in volumes of visitors from North America that we’ve seen this year – albeit that October was the month before the US election. There are some constraints ahead, with air access limited for the winter season by the cap at Dublin airport, which is on hold for summer 2025, but has already been applied for winter 2024. Despite growth at regional airports, the cap at Dublin has an impact, as it is the airport typically supporting ~70% of air access to the island of Ireland and ~85% of air access for Ireland exclusive of Northern Ireland. With Dublin at 96% of the air seat capacity it had last winter, the island overall dips to 99% of the air seat capacity or air access it had last year, with markets such as Great Britain and North America affected, at 97% and 96% seat capacity respectively for winter 2024 vs winter 2023. 

“Tourism Ireland welcomes steps being taken to review the cap at Dublin airport as a priority. In the meantime, we are partnering with air and sea carriers to support growth in demand for routes directly into the regions, to mitigate risk where possible. This winter, we are promoting reasons to explore across seasons, we have publicity programmes under way across 13 markets and we will be launching kickstart campaigns across TV and digital channels overseas to inspire bookings to come and explore Ireland as a top destination for 2025. December is often a key period when people begin to consider their main holidays for the year ahead and we will be supporting the tourism industry to win hearts, minds and trips.”