The total amount of trips made to Ireland by foreign visitors in the last three months of last year fell by 13% on the same time last year.
New figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal that a total of 1,446,000 trips were made here in the last quarter of 2009 - down from the 1,665,000 trips the same time the previous year.
Today's figures reveal that business trips slumped by 30%, while trips to visit relations and friends increased by 5%.
The CSO also says that the number of trips abroad by Irish residents in the months from October to December fell by 10% to 1,473,000. Trips abroad for holiday and leisure purposes fell by 15%.
Today's figures reveal that overseas trips to North America fell by 35%, while trips on sea cross channel routes grew by 4%.
Earnings from visitors to Ireland amounted to €746m for the three month period, while spending by Irish people abroad came to €1.25 billion.
