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For more information on this release:
E-mail: tourism@cso.ie Patsy King (+353) 21 453 5502 Margaret Power (+353) 21 453 5463
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5376
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Household Travel Survey

Quarter 3 2015

Domestic Trips '000 Outbound Trips '000
Quarter 3Quarter 3 Quarter 3Quarter 3
Reason for Journey20142015 20142015
Holiday1,5111,573 1,3871,536
Business8042 147142
Visiting Friends/Relatives612683 464380
Other304306 158151
Total2,5082,603 2,1562,210

Domestic trips increased by 3.8% in Quarter 3 2015

Figure 1 Number of trips by reason for journey Quarter 3 2015
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Domestic Travel

  • Irish residents took 2.6 million domestic trips in Quarter 3 2015, an increase of 3.8% when compared to the same period twelve months earlier. Each trip had an average duration of 3.7 nights, resulting in excess of 9.6 million bed nights. See Table 1.

  • Holidays accounted for 60% of all domestic trips, while more than a quarter (26.2%) were to visit friends or relatives. See Table 2.

  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for 965,000 domestic trips in Quarter 3 2015, while those staying with family and friends accounted for 752,000 trips. See Table 4.

  • Total expenditure on domestic trips in Quarter 3 2015 amounted to €623 million. Almost €437 million of this was accounted for by those on holidays, while those visiting friends or relatives spent over  €92 million in the third quarter of 2015. See Table 2.

     

Outbound Travel

  • More than 2.2 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in Quarter 3 2015, an increase of 2.5% over the same period last year.  See Table 5.

  • A total of 21.1 million bed nights were availed of by Irish residents travelling abroad in the third quarter of 2015.  The average length of stay on outbound trips was 9.6 nights. Spain was the most popular destination in terms of number of trips (609,000), followed by the UK (557,000) and France (260,000). See Tables 6 and 6a.

  • Almost 70% of all outbound trips were classified as holidays, while 17.2% were for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives. See Table 7.
  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for over 6.4 million nights, while those staying in self-catering/rented house accounted for over 5.8 million nights.  See Table 9.
  • Irish residents spent €2,145 million on outbound trips in Quarter 3 2015, of which over €1,577 million was spent on holidays, in excess of €263 million on visiting friends or relatives and €160 million on business trips. See Table 7.

     

Table 1 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
               
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,603
              
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,628
              
              € million
              
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0 216.7336.6586.5324.1 230.2353.5622.7
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.4 2.12.53.7
Table 1a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,603
Border, Midland and Western2,3022,1022,1242,2562,394 424590853527461542870
Southern and Eastern4,9985,0674,9074,8554,960 1,0001,1801,6551,1269661,2481,734
              
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,628
Border, Midland and Western7,2056,3876,1186,8577,369 9321,6623,3861,3901,0431,4743,439
Southern and Eastern15,33515,24114,00213,79213,835 2,3662,9195,9452,6061,9552,9886,190
              
              € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5622.7
Border, Midland and Western508.4412.5409.9444.0482.8 58.4117.8201.2105.572.8113.4220.9
Southern and Eastern1,052.11,003.4935.5929.1981.1 158.4218.8385.4218.6 157.4240.1401.9
              
              Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.7
Border, Midland and Western3.13.02.93.03.1 2.22.84.02.62.32.74.0
Southern and Eastern3.13.02.92.82.8 2.42.53.62.3 2.02.43.6
Table 2 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
             '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,603
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,583 5478621,5116626218791,573
Business370350322341402 122968010410210342
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,423 551567612693508562683
Other1955892961858947 204246304193196246306
              
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,628
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,572 1,2502,3946,4911,4361,3322,3686,698
Business672586621558794 24122217615417222354
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,356 1,3501,2721,8961,8391,0631,2401,962
Other12,5402,2532,5282,1132,482 456692769566432631914
              
              € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5622.7
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0 101.3193.8402.4154.5116.7209.8436.7
Business85.976.975.778.498.3 24.924.325.923.223.027.58.7
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2 52.767.393.788.549.460.292.6
Other1232.2208.2215.3187.9211.5 37.851.364.557.9 41.256.084.6
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.7
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.2 2.32.84.32.22.12.74.3
Business1.81.71.91.62.0 2.02.32.21.51.72.21.3
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.6 2.52.23.12.72.12.22.9
Other12.72.52.62.52.6 2.22.82.52.9 2.22.63.0
1 Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 2a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure &
Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,583
Business370350322341402
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,423
Education & Training12983118109100
Sporting Events237238254223305
Work/Looking for work113121996764
Other1476449489459478
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,572
Business672586621558794
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,356
Education & Training672395689500498
Sporting Events478524509423575
Work/Looking for work275307336197218
Other11,1151,0289949931,191
      
     € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.0
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0
Business85.976.975.778.498.3
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2
Education & Training40.526.535.533.130.0
Sporting Events54.151.049.243.553.8
Work/Looking for work19.523.428.713.512.8
Other1118.1107.2101.997.7114.9
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.2
Business1.81.71.91.62.0
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.6
Education & Training5.24.75.84.65.0
Sporting Events2.02.22.01.91.9
Work/Looking for work2.42.53.42.93.4
Other12.32.32.02.22.5
1 Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Table 3 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 3, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
Method of booking         Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q3 2014Q3 2015Q3 2014Q3 2015Q3 2014Q3 2015
       
Internet      
    Direct35.147.34.94.029.029.8
    Via travel agent/tour operator18.68.60.00.43.32.9
       
Non internet      
    Direct31.239.95.45.421.718.3
    Via travel agent/tour operator6.21.80.20.11.00.2
       
No booking required1.81.388.889.442.646.5
      
Don't know7.11.00.70.72.32.2
       
Total100100100100100100
1A package tour/holiday is where two or more services are combined and sold as a single product at a single price e.g transport and accommodation.
2Transport booked separately, not part of a package.
3Accommodation booked separately, not part of a package.
Table 4 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
              '000
 20102011201220132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,603
Hotel 3,0402,8452,8102,9333,037 670733891743643707965
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602 531183527873139317
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,425 497587676665504573752
Other11,6541,4941,2621,1581,290 204331589167207371570
              
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,628
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,174 1,1771,5322,1381,3271,1161,4052,206
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,141 1644862,2012902315501,893
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,788 1,2081,4832,2721,8251,1181,3272,559
Other17,0236,0494,6785,1415,102 7491,0792,7215525331,1802,971
              
              Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.7
Hotel 2.22.12.12.12.0 1.82.12.41.81.72.02.3
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.2 3.14.16.33.73.23.96.0
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.8 2.42.53.42.72.22.33.4
Other14.24.03.74.44.0 3.73.34.63.3 2.63.25.2
1Other includes stays in Caravan/Camping, Guesthouse/B&B, Own Holiday Home, Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 4a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights
& Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,354
Caravan/Camping560412302342340
Guesthouse/B&B311317334300381
Own Holiday Home596573457382417
Hotel3,0402,8452,8102,9333,037
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,425
Other1187192168134153
      
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,204
Caravan/Camping2,6181,8151,3351,7381,554
Guesthouse/B&B735718810739950
Own Holiday Home2,8862,7851,6862,0821,858
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,174
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,141
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,788
Other1783731846583739
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.9
Caravan/Camping4.74.44.45.14.6
Guesthouse/B&B2.42.32.42.52.5
Own Holiday Home4.84.93.75.44.5
Hotel2.22.12.12.12.0
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.2
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.8
Other14.23.85.04.34.8
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 5 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
             '000
 201020112012120132014 20142015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
               
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,210
              
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,112
              
              € million
              
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.62,145.2
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.6
1 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 6 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights and Expenditure by Country/Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
              '000
 201020112012220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,210
France635496602528583 9218322286 94189260
Germany219190164159194 36465458 334247
Italy358267345288288 3110512230 65128150
Portugal333337358330372141121766915116146
Spain1,3711,4101,4071,3831,345 186389498273 210501609
United Kingdom (GB & NI)2,3432,3042,2762,3722,341 515596624607 547550557
   Of which : Great Britain1,9601,9341,8461,9721,953 453496517488 478488480
                     Northern Ireland383370430400389 62100107119 696277
Other Europe1818781722741759 109241250158 176240272
North America452410370405446 9482145124 10795104
Asia & Middle East163127165127165 47363547 422430
All other areas224191191245184 46503256 484635
               
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,112
France5,9524,4555,5495,0505,033 5871,5202,376549 5171,3693,050
Germany1,3341,1659017421,174 177141540316 207253264
Italy3,0732,4932,7532,1712,365 2038041,177181 3277391,407
Portugal3,0193,2833,3752,8693,478 1589751,922423 1749011,581
Spain14,34813,94713,40012,98313,250 1,7473,6015,3802,521 2,0404,1426,267
United Kingdom (GB & NI)10,45110,6799,9409,7109,945 1,9202,5603,2122,253 1,9342,2782,943
   Of which : Great Britain9,4569,5318,7588,6148,874 1,7242,2912,8771,981 1,7902,1172,639
                     Northern Ireland9951,1481,1811,0961,071 195268335273 144161304
Other Europe16,4285,9835,2355,6346,4417401,7092,9431,0499971,2242,521
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,2192,005
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,327 836466581444 783383486
All other areas3,9224,0543,5615,0683,287 8167156881,069 1,001775588
              
              € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2940.81,470.01,982.81,204.61,036.91,509.62,145.2
France500.6374.0463.9442.0468.670.0127.1207.863.765.3145.1221.1
Germany142.6123.0118.697.8122.224.831.236.729.418.223.537.2
Italy351.8298.3315.5271.9281.923.9107.5125.425.145.9104.3159.3
Portugal328.4274.0308.5262.6318.410.086.4175.546.518.389.9148.6
Spain1,198.11,137.61,166.61,124.51,200.8155.3328.3485.2232.0167.2360.3631.9
United Kingdom (GB & NI)984.7976.2926.7903.8972.1192.1271.5293.3215.1219.9231.5276.7
   Of which : Great Britain876.9907.6841.2836.4888.1174.7250.5267.7195.2204.0215.9252.5
                     Northern Ireland107.868.685.567.484.017.521.025.719.816.015.624.3
Other Europe1632.8647.8522.5588.6688.096.3203.1237.5151.0116.4189.0269.7
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8184.9154.3282.4225.1208.5207.3245.8
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.989.175.168.8113.979.454.857.4
All other areas468.4459.5418.3567.2352.7 94.385.470.1102.9 97.9103.997.4
1All other EU member states and all other European countries.
2 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 6a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
              '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,210
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,725 9661,6221,8921,245 1,1011,7102,000
Other Europe2281222202205157 18505436 395441
North America452410370405446 9482145124 10795104
Other 387319355372349 938666102 907065
               
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,112
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,161 5,41510,94316,7577,046 5,93410,59117,701
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,523 117367794245 262314332
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,2192,005
Other 6,9236,2856,3167,4635,615 1,6531,1801,2691,513 1,7851,1581,074
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.6
EU17.37.27.06.77.0 5.66.78.95.7 5.46.28.9
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.7 6.67.314.86.8 6.75.88.0
North America13.114.015.113.514.2 11.111.920.610.8 13.412.919.3
Other 17.919.717.820.116.1 17.713.719.114.8 19.816.616.6
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Table 6b Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure
& Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 201020112012320132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,725
Other Europe2281222202205157
North America452410370405446
Central, South & Other Americas6256694030
Asia & Middle East163127165127165
Africa11070588682
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania52666411972
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,161
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,523
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,337
Central, South & Other Americas825904985480494
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,327
Africa1,5821,3449849101,111
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania1,5151,8051,5923,6781,682
      
     € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2
EU13,901.53,628.63,674.23,504.13,880.8
Other Europe2237.4202.2148.1186.9171.1
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8
Central, South & Other Americas150.7127.3135.779.472.5
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.9
Africa182.6136.6104.7110.8128.1
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania135.1195.6178.0377.0152.2
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
EU17.37.27.06.77.0
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.7
North America13.114.015.113.514.2
Central, South & Other Americas13.216.114.311.916.6
Asia & Middle East18.417.516.718.914.1
Africa14.419.317.010.613.5
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania29.027.525.031.023.3
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
3 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 7 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
              '000
 201020112012220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,210
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,658 5281,0251,387718 6671,1661,536
Business621651551630698 160204147187 170193142
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,676 340416464457 343407380
Other1740769727626644 145196158146 156163151
               
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,112
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,797 4,2458,54514,5025,505 5,0268,89715,765
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,840 669803646722 601745560
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,293 2,5432,8355,0302,885 2,9272,6463,218
Other14,9075,6545,5185,0954,705 7691,2871,6211,028 8589941,568
               
              € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.62,145.2
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.5 472.8886.61,403.6660.6 564.4985.61,577.4
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8 192.1204.0146.5204.1 187.4199.3160.2
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3 186.3238.3292.5244.2 189.2203.9263.5
Other1581.5576.4528.4455.2466.6 89.6141.1140.295.7 95.9120.9144.1
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.6
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.0 8.08.310.57.7 7.57.610.3
Business4.04.23.73.84.1 4.23.94.43.9 3.53.93.9
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.9 7.56.810.86.3 8.56.58.5
Other16.67.47.68.17.3 5.36.610.37.0 5.56.110.4
1Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
2 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 7a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average
Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 201020112012220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,658
Business621651551630698
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,676
Education & Training12190858085
Sporting Events224252273217236
Work/Looking for work9811312111578
Other1297313248214245
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,797
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,840
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,293
Education & Training1,1601,129978943943
Sporting Events955969984907792
Work/Looking for work1,0601,0691,8041,7961,315
Other11,7322,4881,7521,4491,654
      
     € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.2
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.5
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3
Education & Training119.372.775.883.170.2
Sporting Events133.9134.5139.1124.2126.5
Work/Looking for work91.2108.8124.790.875.4
Other1237.2260.4188.8157.1194.4
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.0
Business4.04.23.73.84.1
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.9
Education & Training9.612.611.511.811.1
Sporting Events4.33.83.64.23.4
Work/Looking for work10.89.415.015.616.9
Other15.87.97.16.86.7
1Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
2 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Table 8 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by
Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 3, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
          Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q3 2014Q3 2015Q3 2014Q3 2015Q3 2014Q3 2015
Method of booking      
       
Internet      
    Direct22.416.381.484.044.849.7
    Via travel agent/tour operator46.756.65.43.67.67.0
       
Non internet      
    Direct9.73.23.42.39.08.3
    Via travel agent/tour operator20.121.80.92.40.51.7
       
No booking required0.00.08.35.436.930.7
       
Don't know1.12.20.72.21.22.6
       
Total 100100100100100100
1A package tour/holiday is where two or more services are combined and sold as a single product at a single
price e.g transport and accommodation.
2Transport booked separately, not part of a package.
3Accommodation booked separately, not part of a package.
Table 9 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q3 2015
              '000
 20102011201220132014 2014 2015
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-Sep
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,210
Hotel 3,0112,7252,6882,8823,039 606802859772 698925907
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,023 122279442179 163270507
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,724 347453518405 386443460
Other1955804873783891 97307337151 90290336
               
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,112
Hotel 18,38916,17014,88415,71017,414 3,1834,3695,7994,063 3,2385,0636,427
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,605 1,2522,7765,8871,690 1,9992,1665,838
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,978 2,8143,3576,0592,748 3,2933,5054,792
Other110,5718,9309,8448,7779,639 9762,9684,0551,639 8822,5484,055
               
              Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.6
Hotel 6.15.95.55.55.7 5.35.46.75.3 4.65.57.1
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.3 10.29.913.39.4 12.28.011.5
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.7 8.17.411.76.8 8.57.910.4
Other111.111.111.311.210.8 10.19.712.010.8 9.88.812.1
1Other includes stays in Caravan/Camping, Guesthouse/B&B, Own Holiday Home, Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Table 9a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type
of Accommodation, 2010 - 2014
     '000
 20102011201220132014
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,676
Caravan/Camping262160214207272
Guesthouse/B&B222206227176236
Own Holiday Home206188167202152
Hotel3,0112,7252,6882,8823,039
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,023
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,724
Other1264249264199231
      
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,635
Caravan/Camping3,7791,8672,5472,4843,121
Guesthouse/B&B1,3641,4881,7999351,481
Own Holiday Home2,5583,0122,8493,1562,098
Hotel18,38916,17014,88415,71017,414
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,605
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,978
Other12,8702,5622,6492,2012,940
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.0
Caravan/Camping14.411.711.912.011.5
Guesthouse/B&B6.17.27.95.36.3
Own Holiday Home12.416.017.015.613.8
Hotel6.15.95.55.55.7
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.3
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.7
Other110.910.310.011.112.7
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.

Background Notes

 

Reference Period

Annual/Quarterly.

Scope

Domestic and Outbound travel patterns which involve overnight stays of all residents of the Republic of Ireland.

Coverage

All private households.

Purpose

The purpose of the Household Travel Survey (HTS) is to measure domestic and outbound travel patterns involving overnight stays and associated details (expenditure, purpose of trip, type of accommodation used etc.) of Irish residents.  The survey is one of several Central Statistics Office (CSO) tourism surveys conducted to comply with the requirements of Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 concerning the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism for data to the end of 2011 and Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC in respect of data from the beginning of 2012.

Data Collection

Information is collected via postal survey of private households on a monthly basis by the Central Statistics Office.

Sample Design

The HTS is a random stratified sample. Each month, over 4,600 households (or approximately 0.3% of all private households) are randomly selected from the 2011 Electoral Register, where the selection is stratified by District Electoral Division.

A two stage weighting process is used for outbound travel. Firstly, survey household numbers are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (the number of persons aged 18 or over) and region (NUTS 3).  These household population estimates are provided by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS).  These weightings are then applied to survey results.  The results for outbound travel are subsequently further weighted to agree with the Tourism & Travel results.

Survey household numbers for domestic travel are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (the number of persons aged 18 or over) and region (NUTS 3). These household population estimates are provided by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS).  These weightings are then applied to survey results.

The sample size for some subcategories/breakdowns can be small and therefore caution should be taken when analysing this data.

 

Methodological Changes

The compilation of the HTS has undergone a number of methodological changes for data from 2010 onwards.

  • The recall period for trips taken has changed. Up to Quarter 4 2009, respondents were asked to detail all trips taken in the previous three months.  Since January 2010, respondents are asked to outline trips completed within the previous month only.
  • The methodology adopted to calibrate outbound travel data from the Household Travel Survey (HTS) to the frontier survey data has been changed from January 2010.  The CSO compiles outward travel by Irish residents from two separate sources: (1) the Tourism and Travel Survey (TTS), which is a frontier survey of Irish air and sea ports and (2) the HTS which is a postal survey.  While both of these surveys yield broadly comparable results, in order to avoid confusion, the aggregate results from the HTS are calibrated to match the totals on the TTS in respect of number of trips, bed nights and total expenditure.  As the HTS has a more disaggregated breakdown of subcategories, the breakdowns shown in this release are those compiled in the HTS. It should be noted that the breakdowns shown in this release can be quite different to those shown in the Tourism and Travel release – this is due to the different types of survey and data collection methods involved.
  • The methodology adopted to calibrate domestic travel from the Household Travel Survey (HTS) has been changed from January 2010. Previously, the calibration factor for outbound trips was also applied to domestic travel data. From January 2010 onwards this calibration factor is no longer applied to domestic travel data. This means that domestic travel survey household numbers are weighted to agree with household population estimates broken down by household type (provided by the QNHS) only. These weightings are then applied to survey results.

 

Arising from these changes, a discontinuity in all of the series relating to outbound and domestic travel has occurred from 2010 onwards and therefore these results are not directly comparable with the results prior to 2010.

It should be noted that there are some differences between the Household Travel Survey and Tourism and Travel Survey:

  • The HTS includes travel to Northern Ireland while the TTS only includes overseas travel (it excludes travel to Northern Ireland).
  • The HTS only includes travel where there is at least one overnight stay while the TTS covers both same-day trips and overnight trips.

Definitions

Tourism

Means the activity of visitors taking a trip to a main destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal purpose, other than to be employed  by a resident entity in the place visited.

Usual Environment

The usual environment of an individual is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines.  Places that are frequently visited are part of a person’s usual environment even though they may be located at a considerable distance (or in another country) from the place of residence.

For the purposes of this release, trips taken on a weekly or more frequent basis are considered to be within a respondent’s usual environment and are thus excluded from estimates for tourism trips.  The one exception being that of holiday homes which although may be frequently visited, are considered outside the usual environment according to the UNWTO 2008 International Recommendations on Tourism Statistics (IRTS).

Trip

A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip.  A trip is made up of visits to different places.

Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism is defined as the activities of residents of the Republic of Ireland travelling to and staying in places only within the Republic of Ireland but outside their usual environment.

The following categories are excluded from the definition of domestic travel:

  • Residents travelling within the country with the intention of changing their usual residence.
  • Persons who travel to work temporarily in institutions within the country.
  • Persons who travel regularly or frequently between neighbouring localities to work or study.
  • Nomads and persons without fixed residence.
  • Armed forces on manoeuvre.

Outbound Tourism

Outbound tourism is defined as the activities of residents of the Republic of Ireland travelling to and staying in places outside the Republic of Ireland and outside their usual environment.  From 2012 onwards expenditure on outbound travel includes expenditure on car imports of approximately €150m per annum.

The following categories are excluded from outbound travel:

  • Persons leaving the country as migrants, including dependants accompanying or joining them.
  • Persons, known as border workers, residing near the border in the Republic of Ireland but working in the North of Ireland.
  • Diplomats, consular officers and members of the armed forces when travelling outside of the Republic of Ireland on assignment.  This includes dependants and household employees accompanying or joining them.
  • Persons travelling as refugees or nomads.

Overnight Visitor

An overnight visitor is a visitor who stays at least one night in collective or private accommodation in the place, county or country visited.

Tourism Expenditure (to the end of 2011)

Total consumption expenditure is any expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor during their trip and stay at their destination.

Tourism expenditure includes purchases of consumer goods and services inherent in travel and stay (eg. travel to, from and at destination, accommodation costs, food and drink, excursions), purchases of durable goods for personal use, souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

The following outlays or acquisitions are excluded:

  • Purchases for commercial purposes, for resale, purchases made on behalf of an employer during a business trip.
  • Capital type investments or transactions engaged in by visitors, such as land, housing or real estate, works of art and other important acquisitions (such as cars, caravans, boats, second houses), even though they may be used in the future for tourism travel purposes.
  • Cash given to relatives or friends during the trip, which does not represent payment of tourism goods or services, as well as donations made to institutions.

Tourism Expenditure (from 2012 onwards)

Total consumption expenditure is any expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor during their trip and stay at their destination.

Tourism expenditure includes purchases of consumer goods and services inherent in travel and stay (eg. travel to, from and at destination, accommodation costs, food and drink, excursions), purchases of durable goods for personal use, souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

Expenditure on valuables such as paintings, works of art, jewellery and on durable consumer goods such as cars, boats, mobile homes and caravans are also included.

The following outlays or acquisitions are excluded:

  • Purchases for commercial purposes, for resale, purchases made on behalf of an employer during a business trip.
  • Investments or transactions engaged in by visitors, such as land, housing or real estate.
  • Cash given to relatives or friends during the trip, which does not represent payment of tourism goods or services, as well as donations made to institutions.

Rounding

Individual figures have been rounded independently and the sum of the component items therefore may not necessarily add to the totals shown.

NUTS Regions

The regional classifications in this release are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat.  The NUTS 3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 and Regional Authorities Establishment Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994.  The NUTS 2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS 3 regions.  The composition of the regions is set out below.

Border, Midland and Western NUTS 2 Region   

Southern and Eastern NUTS 2 Region

Border Cavan Dublin Dublin City
  Donegal   Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown       
  Leitrim   Fingal
  Louth   South Dublin
  Monaghan    
  Sligo Mid-East Kildare
      Meath
Midland         Laois   Wicklow
  Longford    
  Offaly Mid-West Clare
  Westmeath   Limerick City
      Limerick
West Galway City   North Tipperary
  Galway    
  Mayo South-East          Carlow
  Roscommon                 Kilkenny
      South Tipperary
      Waterford City
      Waterford
      Wexford
       
    South-West Cork City
      Cork
      Kerry

 

   

EU includes the following countries:
Austria France Netherlands
Belgium Germany Poland
Bulgaria Greece Portugal
Croatia (from 1/7/2013) Hungary Romania
Cyprus Italy Slovakia
Czech Republic Latvia Slovenia
Denmark Lithuania Spain
Estonia Luxembourg Sweden
Finland Malta United Kingdom
 
 
Other Europe includes the following countries:
Aland Islands Iceland Norway
Albania Isle of Man Russian Federation
Andorra Jersey San Marino
Belarus Liechtenstein Serbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina                             Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of           Switzerland
Faroe Islands Moldova, Republic of Turkey
Gibraltar Monaco                                     Ukraine
Guernsey Montenegro Vatican City 

 

 

 

North America includes the following countries:
Canada
United States      
 
 
Central, South and Other Americas includes the following countries:
Anguilla Dominican Republic Nicaragua
Antigua and Barbuda Ecuador Panama
Argentina El Salvador Paraguay
Aruba Falkland Islands (Malvinas)                Peru
Bahamas French Guiana Puerto Rico
Barbados Greenland Saint Kitts and Nevis
Belize Grenada Saint Lucia
Bermuda Guadeloupe Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Bolivia Guatemala Saint Vincent & the Grenadines           
Brazil Guyana Suriname
Cayman Islands Haiti Trinidad and Tobago
Chile Honduras Turks and Caicos Islands
Colombia Jamaica Uruguay
Costa Rica Martinique Venezuela
Cuba Mexico Virgin Islands, British
Dominica                                       Montserrat                                   Virgin Islands, US                          

 

 

Asia and Middle East includes the following countries:
Afghanistan Japan Palestinian Territory, Occupied          
Armenia Jordan Philippines
Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Qatar
Bahrain Korea, Democratic People's Republic of             Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh Korea, Republic of Singapore
Bhutan Kuwait Sri Lanka
British Indian Ocean Territory             Kyrgyzstan Syrian Arab Republic
Brunei Darussalam Lao People's Democratic Republic Taiwan, Province of China
Cambodia Lebanon Tajikistan
China Macao Thailand
Georgia Malaysia Timor Leste
Hong Kong Maldives Turkmenistan
India Mongolia United Arab Emirates
Indonesia Myanmar Uzbekistan
Iran, Islamic Republic of Nepal Vietnam
Iraq Oman Yemen
Israel Pakistan  

 

 

Africa includes the following countries:
Algeria Gambia Rwanda
Angola Ghana Saint Helena
Benin Guinea Sao Tome and Principe
Botswana Guinea-Bissau              Senegal
Burkina Faso Kenya Seychelles
Burundi Lesotho Sierra Leone
Cameroon Liberia Somalia
Cape Verde Libya South Africa
Central African Republic Madagascar South Sudan
Chad Malawi Sudan
Comoros Mali Swaziland
Congo Mauritania Tanzania, United Republic of             
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the             Mauritius Togo
Cote d’Ivoire Mayotte Tunisia
Djibouti Morocco Uganda
Egypt Mozambique Western Sahara
Equatorial Guinea Namibia Zambia
Eritrea Niger Zimbabwe
Ethiopia Nigeria  
Gabon Reunion  

 

 

 

Australia, New Zealand and Oceania includes the following countries:
American Samoa Kiribati Samoa
Antarctica Marshall Islands Solomon Islands
Australia Micronesia, Federated States of            South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands        
Bouvet Island Nauru Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Christmas Island New Caledonia Tokelau
Cocos (Keeling) Islands New Zealand Tonga
Cook Islands Niue Tuvalu
Fiji Norfolk Island United States Minor Outlying Islands
French Polynesia Northern Mariana Islands Vanuatu
French Southern Territories Palau Wallis and Futuna
Guam Papua New Guinea  
Heard Island & McDonald Islands            Pitcairn  

 

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