North America fast-growing market as tourism climbs 5%

The number of visitors to Ireland climbed 5 per cent in 2003 amid an increase in tourist numbers from North America.

There were 6,369,000 overseas visits to Ireland last year compared with 6,065,000 in 2002, an jump of 5 per cent.

Although the year saw a 17 per cent increase in the number of tourists from North America, the volume of growth in the years preceding the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11th 2001 have yet to be matched

Growth in North American tourism increased faster than the Britain and continental European market although it is still 13.3 per cent below the numbers reached in 2000.

The number of overseas visits on cross-channel routes grew by 2.4 per cent while the number on continental routes increased by 9.7 per cent.

The number of trips abroad by Irish residents last year also climbed significantly. There were 4,929,000 overseas trips by Irish people last year compared with 4,634,000 in 2002, an increase of 6.4 per cent.

The number of Irish residents travelling to continental Europe rose by 11.3 per cent while the number travelling across the Atlantic grew by 25.7 per cent.

The number of bednights spent in Ireland by tourists in 2003 increased by 5.7 per cent when compared with 2002 and the average length of stay was 7.8 nights.  This compares with 9.3 nights for Irish people going abroad.