Visits from Britain were down 9%, while trips from the US and Canada fell 8%.
There was also a fall of 4% in visits from other European countries, the largest drop for seven years.
The number of trips made by Irish people abroad was up 3% to just under 2.43 million in the third quarter, with a 13% increase in the figure for transatlantic travel and 19% growth on cross-channel sea trips.
Spending by Irish people abroad exceeded the amount spent by visitors here by €632m.
The figures also show a big drop in business trips to Ireland, down by 13% compared with the same period last year.
