The number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 3.4% in the second quarter of the year. Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that there were 1.762 million overseas visits in Q2 2004, compared to a figure of 1.704 million the same time last year.
The number of visits by UK residents fell by 3.3%, while the number of visits by residents of other European countries jumped by 8.9%. The number of visits by residents of the US and Canada also grew by 8.3% on the second quarter of 2003.
The CSO also revealed today that the number of Irish visits abroad in the second quarter of the year was up 8.2% to 1.431 million from the same time last year. Irish residents travelling abroad on cross-channel routes grew by 8.3% compared with the second quarter of 2002, while the number travelling on continental routes grew by 7.8%.
The number of Irish residents travelling across the Atlantic increased by 12.9% in Q2 2004, compared to Q2 2003.
Earnings from visitors to Ireland came to €1.113 billion in April, while spending by Irish residents abroad amounted to €1.052 billion - creating a net inflow of €61m.
