Passenger traffic in and out of the country for the bank holiday weekend is up on last year.
Despite the poor weather in Ireland, an increase in tourism is expected over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
This weekend, Aer Lingus will fly around twelve and a half thousand passengers into Ireland.
Air traffic from almost all points showing an improvement.
Traffic from North America is up 3% and there has been a 5% increase from Britain and mainland Europe. There has also been an increase in the number of people flying out of the country with 13% more people on transatlantic flights.
The ports are also busy. B&I expects to carry over forty six thousand passengers between Ireland and Britain. There were also long queues for the ferry to the Isle of Man.
For travellers staying in Ireland, CIÉ has put on twenty five extra trains and buses to cater for an expected quarter of a million passengers.
Jim Flannery of the Hotels Federation is optimistic of an increase in business over the long weekend and is hopeful that it will continue.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 August 1985. The reporter is Michelle McCaughren.
