An estimated 10.5 million people will have visited Ireland by the end of 2016, making this the best ever year for Irish tourism.
A review of visitor patterns over the past 12 months was launched today by Tourism Ireland.
It found that there was a 10.5% increase in the number of people travelling to Ireland compared to 2015. In financial terms, this resulted in revenue of around €5.4 billion.
The tourism agency said there was particularly strong growth in the US, German and French markets.
It pointed to a range of promotional initiatives like Ireland's Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and the year of Food and Drink in Northern Ireland as contributory factors.
Screen tourism, generated by the Star Wars movies and the Game of Thrones TV series, is also being credited for attracting visitors.
Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons said screen tourism will remain a priority in the coming years, in order to maximise the potential such productions can bring to the sector.
He said that extensive advertising campaigns, increased access as a result of new flights and targeted sales missions to new markets had all helped bring more visitors to the country.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office yesterday showed visitor numbers from Britain jumped by 18% in the first nine months of the year.
While those involved in the hospitality sector have expressed concern at the impact the Brexit vote might have on 2017 figures, there is also confidence that the market is robust enough to withstand any pressure.
