Visitor levels across Ireland increased significantly last year, with almost 60% of firms within the tourism sector reporting an increase in business compared to 2022. The report also noted an increase in domestic tourism, which was up for 64% of hotels and 52% of attractions. New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released on Wednesday also point to a rise in domestic tourism, with the first nine months of 2023 reflecting a 7% increase annually in domestic overnight trips. "In the first nine months of 2023, Irish residents also took 11.3 million domestic same-day visits and expenditure amounted to €500 million," said CSO statistician, Brendan Curtin. "The figures highlight the continued growth in domestic travel in the first nine months of 2023 following the disruption caused by covid restrictions."

Source: Irish Examiner February 21, 2024 17:40 UTC