Tourism Numbers Decline 2% in June
Tourism Spending Dips Despite Visitor Numbers, Hoteliers Raise Concerns
Table of Contents
Dublin, Ireland – New figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal a mixed picture for Ireland’s tourism sector in June, with a notable decrease in overall visitor spending despite an increase in visitors from North America. hoteliers have expressed “serious concerns” about the downward trend in expenditure, warning of significant challenges for the industry.
Visitor Numbers Show Regional Variations
In June,the number of tourists visiting Ireland saw varied performance across different regions. While visitors from Great Britain experienced a slight decline of 1% compared to the same month last year, those from continental Europe were down by 6%. The most significant drop was observed from the Rest of the World, which saw a 20% decrease in visitor numbers.
In contrast,Ireland welcomed a 5% increase in tourists from North America. this growth from a key market offers a glimmer of optimism amidst the broader decline in spending.The CSO data, compiled from a passenger survey of approximately 13,000 departing passengers at ports and airports, indicates that Great Britain remains the largest source of tourists, accounting for 34% of visitors. Continental Europe followed closely with 31%, while North America represented 30% of the total.Tourists from the Rest of the World made up the remaining 5%.
Spending Declines Amidst Longer stays
Despite the increase in North American visitors, overall tourist expenditure in June fell by 6% compared to the same month last year, reaching €647 million. However, this figure represents an 8% increase on June 2024.
The average length of stay for visitors in June was 7.9 nights,an increase from the 7.3 nights recorded in both June 2024 and June 2023. This suggests that while visitors are staying longer,they are spending less per trip.
“The number of nights spent by foreign visitors in June was almost 5.2 million, an increase of 6% compared with June 2024 and up 14% compared with 2023,” stated Gregg Patrick, Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division of the CSO.The primary reason for visits remained holiday or leisure, accounting for 47% of trips. Visiting friends or relatives was the second most common reason, cited by 30% of visitors.
Hoteliers Warn of Revenue Softening
The decline in tourist spending has prompted a strong reaction from the Irish Hotels Federation. Chief Executive Paul Gallagher highlighted that while hotel occupancy rates are comparable to last year, the industry is experiencing a “softening in revenue and room prices.”
“This appears to be part of a wider decline in tourism spend so far this year as indicated by recent CSO figures,” Gallagher commented. He warned that if this weakness persists through the summer, it will pose a “very significant challenge for tourism businesses nationwide that are already struggling under unsustainable increases in operating costs.”
Gallagher pointed to several external factors contributing to the challenging environment, including economic difficulties in key source markets, increased international political uncertainty, and the impact of EU/US tariffs, all of which pose a threat to Irish tourism.
The breakdown of visitor spending shows north America as the largest contributor, with visitors from the region spending €283 million (44% of the total). visitors from Continental Europe spent €200 million (31%), Great Britain accounted for €118 million (18%), and visitors from the Rest of the World spent €47 million (7%).