Ever wonder who actually visits Ireland? Here are the statistics, taken from the publications of Fáilte Ireland …
Visitors to Ireland: their country of origin
Just under 7,600,000 visitors are on domestic trips (Irish and Northern Irish vacationers) and just under 6,400,000 foreign visitors join the crowd.
The largest national groups are
- Great Britain with almost 1,600,000 visitors,
- United States with around 870,000 guests,
- Germany provides almost 300,000 tourists,
- France represents a slightly lower number and
- almost 190,000 Italians.
Favorite Irish areas for foreign tourists
- Dublin,
- South West Ireland,
- the west of Ireland,
- the Shannon region and
- Southeastern Ireland.
North
What does the average tourist in Ireland spend money on?
Europeans spend their money in these proportions:
- 34% for food and drink,
- 32% for bed and food,
- 16% for purchases,
- 8% for internal transport and
- 4% for tourism and entertainment.
Americans spend their money in these proportions:
- 31% for food and drink,
- 28% for bed and food,
- 18% for purchases,
- 10% for internal transport and
- 6% for tourism and entertainment.
How do tourists get to Ireland?
Travel to Ireland is, as expected, dominated by air travel.
Europeans arrive by these means:
- 73% by air from Europe,
- 16% by air from Great Britain,
- 7% by ferry from Great Britain and
- 4% by ferry from continental Europe.
The Americans arrive by these means:
- 54% directly on transatlantic flights,
- 33% by air from Great Britain,
- 8% by air from Europe,
- 4% by ferry from Great Britain and
- less than half a percent by ferry from continental Europe.
What accommodation do visitors prefer in Ireland?
Europeans stay in these accommodations:
- 23% in self-catering accommodation,
- 19% with friends or family,
- 18% in guest houses and B & Bs,
- 17% in hotels,
- 5% in shelters and
- 4% are camping or using a caravan.
North Americans stay in these accommodations:
- 36% in hotels,
- 20% with friends or family,
- 19% in guest houses and B & Bs,
- 13% in self-catering accommodation,
- 4% in shelters and
- fewer than one in two hundred are camping or using a caravan.
Tourists’ Favorite Activities in Ireland
1. Hiking and trekking,
2. Golf,
3. Fishing,
4. Cycling and
5. Equestrian sports
What is the typical vacationer?
A couple, over 44 years old and making money in a white collar job.
- Age groups
- 20% less than 25 years old,
- 18% 25 to 34 years old,
- 17% 35 to 44 years and
- 44% older than 44 years.
- Professional situation
- 56% white collar workers,
- 23% of managerial or professional staff,
- 16% skilled workers and
- 4% unskilled workers.
- Travel groups
- 41% couples,
- 24% of individual tourists,
- 18% families and
- 17% other groups of adults.
