Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of foreign visits to Ireland rose by 5.6% in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period last year.
The CSO says there were just over 1.7 million visits in the three months from March to the end of June, but it points out that this is still below the level recorded in the same period of 2000.
The number of visits on cross-channel routes increased by 3.2%, while continental Europe showed growth of 6.6%. The number of visits from the US and Canada was also up, by 6.3%.
Most of the growth came from holidays and visits to friends or relatives, but the number of business visits is lower than in the same period last year.
The number of trips by Irish people abroad was 9.5% higher in the second quarter at 1.32 million, with strong growth in the number travelling to continental Europe.
Earnings from visitors to Ireland came to €1,060, while spending by Irish visitors abroad amounted to €1,078m.
