Insights from the latest SOAR:

• The outlook for direct air access to the island of Ireland for September 2024 is positive.   Scheduled seat capacity to the island of Ireland will be 104% of September 2023 levels, with 2.8 million seats filed for the month. (OAG)
• Scheduled seat capacity from each the four key markets to the island of Ireland for September 2024 is above September 2023 levels, except for Great Britain (98%).  
• The CSO released inbound tourism statistics for the first half of 2024. From January to June 2024, Ireland welcomed over 3.2 million overseas tourists, generating over €2.7 billion for the economy. Overseas tourist numbers
  were up +15% when compared to the same period in 2023. These overseas tourists stayed over 22 million nights. On average, overseas tourists stayed a week (6.9 nights), spending €832 per trip. p. More than two-fifths of overseas tourists were holidaymakers who typically
  stayed 5.9 nights in Ireland. 

See more insights in the full report. 

• For the Republic of Ireland, growth in seat capacity is expected to continue this Summer from Mainland Europe (+3%), North America (+9%) and Rest of World (+11%) markets.
• Access from Great Britain has decreased from last summer (-7%), now accounting for 30% of all capacity to ROI.
• Despite this decrease, GB remains the source market with the largest number of seats, flights and routes to ROI -operated by Ryanair (62%) and Aer Lingus (31%).
• Access from the US has expanded this summer averaging 55,300 seats weekly, with increased seat capacity of 7% to Dublin airport and 18% to Shannon airport.
• Seat capacity from France has increased this summer
  providing an average of 33,700 seats weekly from 20 different destinations. 
• Air capacity from Germany (-7%) is now behind France and Italy with an average 26,300 scheduled seats per week over the summer.  

See more data in the report. 

Results from the Accommodation Occupancy Survey for 2023 found:

• Occupancy rates in every sector were above 2022 levels.
• Guesthouse room occupancy (77%) exceeded 2022 (68%)
• B&B room occupancy (64%) in 2023 was well above 2022 (54%) – but many B&Bs have not reopened.
• Self-catering unit occupancy was 62% in 2023 (compared to 58% in 2022) – this sector recovered faster than others after Covid and so there was less ‘headroom’ to improve significantly on an already good 2022.
• Caravan and campsite pitch occupancy Apr – Sep was 60%, which compares to 56% in 2022 – the poor summer  weather did have an impact. 
• Hostel bed occupancy (65%) in 2023 was also up on 2022 (59%)
• International tourists underpin the growth in 2023.

See more in the full report. 

Findings in the latest Dublin Economic Monitor include:

• Employment levels in Dublin reached a new peak of 826,600
  (SA) residents employed in Q2 2024, 
• Retail spending in the Dublin economy increased by 0.7% on Q1 2024. 
• Business activity in the Capital softened in Q2 2024, with
  growth driven by the services sector and an increase in
  construction activity while the manufacturing sector weakened.
• Passenger journeys on Dublin’s public transport network
  continued to expand to 70.7 million journeys (SA) in Q2
  2024, representing a 7.6% quarter on quarter increase.  
• Dublin's hotel market recorded a strong early summer 2024
  period with the supply of hotel rooms reaching peak levels and occupancy rates of 86.9% in July.

See more in the full report. 

Following May’s exceptional performance, June continued to be positive.

• June occupancy growth was modest and bedspace demand declined, but rates increased resulting in positive revenue per available room.
• Average daily rate of €191.27  was recorded for the month which was a 4.8% increase since last summer with May posting the greatest increase.
• Most counties recorded year-on-year ADR gains. Dublin experienced record-breaking hotel performance during the final weekend in June boosted by events - concerts and GAA quarterfinals.
• As expected source market shifts took place with the share of overseas guests increasing in June. 
• June performance by hotel grade followed the strong ADR performance seen nationally with 5-star hotels experiencing their first ADR increase following eight consecutive months of decreases.

See more in the full report. 

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides data based on the annual results of their Household Travel Survey (HTS).  Fáilte Ireland then generates expenditure estimates based on the results of the HTS (in this case Q4 and for the year 2023).  This report provides a breakdown of trips, nights, average length of stay and spend by Irish residents by main county visited.   Some of the findings are: 

• Irish residents took 14.3 million domestic trips in 2023,
• They spent a total of €3.1 billion.
• They stayed an average of 2.4 nights per trip, a total 34 million nights. 

See more results by county. 

The main findings from this research were: 

• Day trips are popular throughout the year with general leisure trips being the largest type of day trip, peaking in the summer period.
• Visiting friends and relatives day trips are more popular during the winter months.
• Daytrips are characterised by short lead times and with most consumers willing to travel up to 2 hours to a destination.
• Dublin benefits from an increased share of daytrips – a combination of travel ease and a concentration of things to see and do.
• On average, visitors spent 4 ¾ hours at destinations.
• Daytrip satisfaction is high but linked to value-for-money perceptions.

The report also provides tips for marketeers to increase day trips to their destination, see more in the report. 

Overall planned capacity to the Republic of Ireland (ROI) for the first half of 2024 is expected to be 4% above the same period last year.

• Mainland Europe, North America and Rest of World markets are set to increase their seat capacity to ROI between January and June 2024 compared to 2023.
• Capacity from Great Britain is due to be 2% below the same period last year.
• Seat capacity is expected to be up at all airports, except Kerry airport, for the first half of this year.
• Planned capacity from North America is due to surpass its 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic (+8% vs. Q1 & Q2 2019).

See more in this infographic.

Key Tourism Facts 2022 is a collation of available key tourism performance data for the year 2022, with a strong focus on the domestic market and includes data on: 

• Domestic Regional Performance 2022
• Domestic Tourism 2022
• Day Trips
• The Tourism Product
• Access to Republic of Ireland 2022
• The Economic Benefit of Tourism

A one stop shop for key statistics on Ireland’s overseas and domestic tourist performance in 2019. 

Overseas Tourists 

• Tourist Numbers by source market (2015-2019)
• Tourist Revenue 
• Regional Performance by source market
• Month of arrival
• Where did overseas tourists stay
• Activities  tourists engaged in 
• Profile of tourists

Domestic 

• Domestic trips
• Domestic expenditure 
• Where domestic holidaymakers stay 
• Length of stay by time of year
• Activities domestic holidaymakers engaged in