Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that overseas visitors made just over 1.8 million trips to Ireland in the second quarter of this year, up 2% on the same period last year.
Visits from Britain were up 1% in the period, while visits from other European countries rose by 11%. But the number if visits made by Americans and Canadians fell by 1%.
A breakdown also showed that the number of bed nights spent in guest houses and bed and breakfasts by foreign tourists fell by 12% compared with the second quarter of 2004.
Irish people made just over 1.6 million visits abroad in the three months, up 14% on the same period last year. The numbers travelling on air routes to Britain jumped by 21% but the numbers on sea routes showed a 17% drop.
