CSO Report: 10% Decrease in Tourist Numbers for May

Inbound tourism to the State was down 10 per cent last month compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). In May, 560,500 foreign visitors came to the Republic, spending €477 million, a 21 per cent decrease from the previous year. The majority of visitors were from Britain (35 per cent) and the United States (25 per cent), with holiday and leisure being the main reason for travel (43 per cent).

The average length of stay for visitors was 7.3 nights, with a total of 4.1 million nights spent in the State. Gregg Patrick, a statistician at the CSO, noted a 10 per cent decrease in foreign visitors departing the State last month compared to May 2024. While visitor numbers from some regions declined, visitors from North America increased by 11 per cent.

The CSO has been in discussions with tourism bodies over the discrepancy between declining inbound tourist data and the experiences of industry professionals. Fáilte Ireland, the latest organization to express concerns, sought clarification from statisticians last month. Inbound tourist numbers have been consistently dropping since September, puzzling tourism operators who have not seen a corresponding impact on their businesses.

According to the source: The Irish Times.