Tourist visits to Ireland so far in 2023 down 16% compared to pre-pandemic levels

The number of international tourists visiting Ireland is down 16% on the amount for the same period in 2019, latest figures show. 

According to data compiled by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), 1.7m people visited Ireland from overseas between January and the end of March.

Preliminary indicators suggest that demand from mainland Europe and North America is to the forefront of the tourism recovery rate as has been the case in the latter part of last year, while demand from Britain, the largest volume source market, remains soft.

Looking forward ITIC expressed concern that recovery would be threatened by continued cost inflation and supply shortages across tourism accommodation and car hire.

ITIC’s analysis shows that over one third of all tourism beds in regional Ireland are now contracted to Government to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and international asylum seekers.

Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, Chairperson of ITIC, said: "The number of tourism beds no longer available to the tourism economy is of great concern. There will be tourism towns up and down the country with a shortage of tourism beds and therefore with very little tourism activity".

Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of ITIC said: "Fáilte Ireland have estimated that the impact of Government’s over-reliance on tourism beds will cost the tourism economy €1.1 billion this year. Downstream tourism businesses such as attractions, cultural experiences, inbound operators, restaurants and vintners will be the ones to suffer".

ITIC is calling for a business support fund for non-accommodation tourism businesses who are impacted by Government contracts and has also repeated its call for a comprehensive 2-year plan to be published by the Department of Taoiseach as to how and where refugees are to be accommodated.