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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 4 and Year 2015

Domestic Trips '000 Outbound Trips '000
YearYear YearYear
Reason for Journey20142015 20142015
Holiday3,5833,815 3,6584,171
Business402350 698691
Visiting Friends/Relatives2,4232,411 1,6761,547
Other947953 644668
Total7,3547,529 6,6767,077

Outbound trips rose by 6.0% in 2015

Number of trips by reason for journey - 2015
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Domestic Travel - 2015

  • Irish residents took 7.5 million domestic trips in 2015, an increase of 2.4% when compared with 2014. Each trip had an average duration of 2.8 nights, resulting in 20.9 million bed nights.  See Table 1.

  • In 2015, more than half (50.7%) of all domestic trips were classified as holidays while over 2.4 million trips (32.0%) were to visit friends or relatives. See Table 2.

  • Total expenditure on domestic trips in 2015 amounted to €1,530 million. Almost €939 million of this was accounted for by those on holidays, while those visiting friends or relatives spent €278 million in 2015. See Table 2.

  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for almost 3.1 million domestic trips in 2015, while those staying with family and friends accounted for nearly 2.5 million trips. See Table 4.

     

Outbound Travel - 2015

  • 7.1 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in 2015, an increase of 6.0% on 2014.  See Table 5.

  • A total of 53.5 million bed nights were availed of by Irish residents travelling abroad in 2015. Over three quarters (77.0%) of these bed nights were within the European Union. The average length of stay on outbound trips was 7.6 nights, varying from 6.7 nights within the European Union, 13.9 nights in North America and 24.7 nights in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. See Table 6b.

  • Irish residents spent a total €6,017 million on outbound trips in 2015, of which €3,879 million was spent on holidays, €867 million on visiting friends or relatives and €766 million on business trips.  See Table 7.

  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for over 18.6 million nights in 2015, while those staying with family and friends accounted for almost 14.6 million nights.  See Table 9.

     

 Quarter 4 2015 Results

  • In Quarter 4 2015, Irish residents took 1.7 million domestic trips, an increase of 3.3% when compared to the same period twelve months earlier. Each trip had an average duration of 2.2 nights, resulting in over 3.8 million bed nights. See Table 1.
  • Total expenditure on domestic trips in Quarter 4 2015 amounted to €323.5 million, of which over half (54.3%) was spent by those on holidays.  See Table 2.
  • A total of 1.6 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in Quarter 4 2015, an increase of 6.3% over the same period last year.  See Table 5.
  • The average length of stay on outbound trips was 6.0 nights. The UK and Spain were the two most popular destinations in terms of trip numbers at 568,000 and 360,000 respectively. See Tables 6 and 6a.

 

Table 1 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
               '000
 201020112012201320142015 20142015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
                 
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,6031,708
                
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,6283,843
                
                € million
                
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.01,529.9 216.7336.6586.5324.1 230.2353.5622.7323.5
                 
                Nights
 
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8 2.32.63.72.4 2.12.53.72.2
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 1 (XLS 13KB)
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Table 1a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
               '000
 201020112012201320142015 20142015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,6031,708
Border, Midland and Western2,3022,1022,1242,2562,3942,377 424590853527461542870503
Southern and Eastern4,9985,0674,9074,8554,9605,152 1,0001,1801,6551,1269661,2481,7341,205
                
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,6283,843
Border, Midland and Western7,2056,3876,1186,8577,3697,141 9321,6623,3861,3901,0431,4743,4391,186
Southern and Eastern15,33515,24114,00213,79213,83513,790 2,3662,9195,9452,6061,9552,9886,1902,657
                
                € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.01,529.9 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5622.7323.5
Border, Midland and Western508.4412.5409.9444.0482.8498.9 58.4117.8201.2105.572.8113.4220.991.9
Southern and Eastern1,052.11,003.4935.5929.1981.11,031.0 158.4218.8385.4218.6 157.4240.1401.9231.6
                
                Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.72.2
Border, Midland and Western3.13.02.93.03.13.0 2.22.84.02.62.32.74.02.4
Southern and Eastern3.13.02.92.82.82.7 2.42.53.62.3 2.02.43.62.2
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 1a (XLS 14KB)
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Table 2 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
               '000
 201020112012201320142015 20142015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,6031,708
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,5833,815 5478621,5116626218791,573741
Business370350322341402350 122968010410210342104
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,4232,411 551567612693508562683657
Other1955892961858947953 204246304193196246306206
                
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,6283,843
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,57212,060 1,2502,3946,4911,4361,3322,3686,6981,662
Business672586621558794619 24122217615417222354171
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,3565,822 1,3501,2721,8961,8391,0631,2401,9621,557
Other12,5402,2532,5282,1132,4822,431 456692769566432631914454
                
                € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.01,529.9 216.7336.6586.5324.1230.2353.5622.7323.5
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0938.6 101.3193.8402.4154.5116.7209.8436.7175.5
Business85.976.975.778.498.383.9 24.924.325.923.223.027.58.724.7
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2278.1 52.767.393.788.549.460.292.675.9
Other1232.2208.2215.3187.9211.5229.2 37.851.364.557.9 41.256.084.647.4
                 
                Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.72.2
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.23.2 2.32.84.32.22.12.74.32.2
Business1.81.71.91.62.01.8 2.02.32.21.51.72.21.31.6
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.62.4 2.52.23.12.72.12.22.92.4
Other12.72.52.62.52.62.5 2.22.82.52.9 2.22.63.02.2
1 Other includes Education & Training, Sporting Events, Work/Looking for work, Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 2 (XLS 16KB)
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Table 2a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure &
Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2015
      '000
 201020112012201320142015
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529
Holiday3,9783,6963,3743,4603,5833,815
Business370350322341402350
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,9972,2312,3742,4522,4232,411
Education & Training12983118109100124
Sporting Events237238254223305277
Work/Looking for work11312199676452
Other1476449489459478500
       
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931
Holiday13,98112,97210,77711,93311,57212,060
Business672586621558794619
Visiting Friends/Relatives5,3465,8176,1946,0466,3565,822
Education & Training672395689500498677
Sporting Events478524509423575513
Work/Looking for work275307336197218210
Other11,1151,0289949931,1911,031
       
      € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,560.51,415.91,345.41,373.21,464.01,529.9
Holiday971.9864.9784.8840.3852.0938.6
Business85.976.975.778.498.383.9
Visiting Friends/Relatives270.5265.9269.6266.7302.2278.1
Education & Training40.526.535.533.130.043.8
Sporting Events54.151.049.243.553.850.9
Work/Looking for work19.523.428.713.512.812.2
Other1118.1107.2101.997.7114.9122.3
       
      Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8
Holiday3.53.53.23.43.23.2
Business1.81.71.91.62.01.8
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.72.62.62.52.62.4
Education & Training5.24.75.84.65.05.5
Sporting Events2.02.22.01.91.91.8
Work/Looking for work2.42.53.42.93.44.1
Other12.32.32.02.22.52.1
1 Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 2a (XLS 14KB)
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Table 3 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 4, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
Method of booking         Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2014Q4 2015
       
Internet      
    Direct25.137.66.97.031.133.8
    Via travel agent/tour operator4.94.80.30.11.73.1
       
Non internet      
    Direct49.036.04.84.213.512.0
    Via travel agent/tour operator10.812.40.00.10.81.0
       
No booking required1.50.087.387.851.148.9
      
Don't know8.89.20.70.81.71.2
       
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 3 (XLS 12KB)
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Table 4 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
                '000
 201020112012201320142015 20142015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529 1,4241,7702,5081,6531,4271,7902,6031,708
Hotel 3,0402,8452,8102,9333,0373,089 670733891743643707965774
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602600 53118352787313931770
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,4252,469 497587676665504573752641
Other11,6541,4941,2621,1581,2901,370 204331589167207371570223
                
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931 3,2984,5809,3313,9952,9984,4629,6283,843
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,1746,191 1,1771,5322,1381,3271,1161,4052,2061,464
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,1412,898 1644862,2012902315501,893224
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,7886,604 1,2081,4832,2721,8251,1181,3272,5591,600
Other17,0236,0494,6785,1415,1025,238 7491,0792,7215525331,1802,971554
                
                Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8 2.32.63.72.42.12.53.72.2
Hotel 2.22.12.12.12.02.0 1.82.12.41.81.72.02.31.9
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.24.8 3.14.16.33.73.23.96.03.2
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.82.7 2.42.53.42.72.22.33.42.5
Other14.24.03.74.44.03.8 3.73.34.63.3 2.63.25.22.5
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 4 (XLS 15KB)
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Table 4a Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights
& Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, 2010 - 2015
      '000
 201020112012201320142015
Total Domestic - Trips7,3007,1697,0317,1117,3547,529
Caravan/Camping560412302342340224
Guesthouse/B&B311317334300381413
Own Holiday Home596573457382417511
Hotel3,0402,8452,8102,9333,0373,089
Self Catering/Rented House561570502546602600
Friends/Relatives2,0442,2592,4572,4752,4252,469
Other1187192168134153223
       
Total Domestic - Nights22,54021,62820,12020,64921,20420,931
Caravan/Camping2,6181,8151,3351,7381,554831
Guesthouse/B&B735718810739950900
Own Holiday Home2,8862,7851,6862,0821,8582,537
Hotel6,5905,9596,0416,0836,1746,191
Self Catering/Rented House2,8913,0402,5262,7883,1412,898
Friends/Relatives6,0366,5796,8756,6376,7886,604
Other1783731846583739971
       
      Nights
Average Length of Stay3.13.02.92.92.92.8
Caravan/Camping4.74.44.45.14.63.7
Guesthouse/B&B2.42.32.42.52.52.2
Own Holiday Home4.84.93.75.44.55.0
Hotel2.22.12.12.12.02.0
Self Catering/Rented House5.15.35.05.15.24.8
Friends/Relatives3.02.92.82.72.82.7
Other14.23.85.04.34.84.4
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 4a (XLS 13KB)
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Table 5 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
               '000
 2010201120121201320142015 20142015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
                 
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,2101,602
                
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,1129,672
                
                € million
                
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.26,016.8 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.62,145.21,325.1
                 
                Nights
 
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.66.0
1 From 2012 onwards expenditure includes expenditure on car imports in the region of €150m for the year.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 5 (XLS 13KB)
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Table 6 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights and Expenditure by Country/Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
                '000
 2010201120122201320142015 2014 2015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,2101,602
France635496602528583609 9218322286 9418926067
Germany219190164159194189 36465458 33424766
Italy358267345288288410 3110512230 6512815068
Portugal33333735833037233514112176691511614659
Spain1,3711,4101,4071,3831,3451,680 186389498273 210501609360
United Kingdom (GB & NI)2,3432,3042,2762,3722,3412,222 515596624607 547550557568
   Of which : Great Britain1,9601,9341,8461,9721,9531,902 453496517488 478488480456
                     Northern Ireland383370430400389320 62100107119 696277112
Other Europe1818781722741759903 109241250158 176240272215
North America452410370405446417 9482145124 10795104111
Asia & Middle East163127165127165137 47363547 42243041
All other areas224191191245184176 46503256 48463547
                 
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,1129,672
France5,9524,4555,5495,0505,0335,298 5871,5202,376549 5171,3693,050363
Germany1,3341,1659017421,1741,033 177141540316 207253264309
Italy3,0732,4932,7532,1712,3652,853 2038041,177181 3277391,407380
Portugal3,0193,2833,3752,8693,4783,008 1589751,922423 1749011,581352
Spain14,34813,94713,40012,98313,25015,353 1,7473,6015,3802,521 2,0404,1426,2672,905
United Kingdom (GB & NI)10,45110,6799,9409,7109,9458,914 1,9202,5603,2122,253 1,9342,2782,9431,759
   Of which : Great Britain9,4569,5318,7588,6148,8748,102 1,7242,2912,8771,981 1,7902,1172,6391,556
                     Northern Ireland9951,1481,1811,0961,071812 195268335273 144161304203
Other Europe16,4285,9835,2355,6346,4415,9247401,7092,9431,0499971,2242,5211,182
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,3375,800 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,2192,0051,145
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,3272,208 836466581444 783383486556
All other areas3,9224,0543,5615,0683,2873,086 8167156881,069 1,001775588721
                
                € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.26,016.8940.81,470.01,982.81,204.61,036.91,509.62,145.21,325.1
France500.6374.0463.9442.0468.6471.670.0127.1207.863.765.3145.1221.140.2
Germany142.6123.0118.697.8122.2117.624.831.236.729.418.223.537.238.6
Italy351.8298.3315.5271.9281.9375.923.9107.5125.425.145.9104.3159.366.3
Portugal328.4274.0308.5262.6318.4295.410.086.4175.546.518.389.9148.638.6
Spain1,198.11,137.61,166.61,124.51,200.81,471.7155.3328.3485.2232.0167.2360.3631.9312.4
United Kingdom (GB & NI)984.7976.2926.7903.8972.1978.8192.1271.5293.3215.1219.9231.5276.7250.6
   Of which : Great Britain876.9907.6841.2836.4888.1900.3174.7250.5267.7195.2204.0215.9252.5227.9
                     Northern Ireland107.868.685.567.484.078.517.521.025.719.816.015.624.322.7
Other Europe1632.8647.8522.5588.6688.0722.596.3203.1237.5151.0116.4189.0269.7147.4
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8871.7184.9154.3282.4225.1208.5207.3245.8210.1
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.9302.489.175.168.8113.979.454.857.4110.8
All other areas468.4459.5418.3567.2352.7409.3 94.385.470.1102.9 97.9103.997.4110.2
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 6 (XLS 19KB)
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Table 6a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
                '000
 201020112012201320142015 2014 2015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,2101,602
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,7256,173 9661,6221,8921,245 1,1011,7102,0001,362
Other Europe2281222202205157175 18505436 39544140
North America452410370405446417 9482145124 10795104111
Other 387319355372349312 938666102 90706588
                 
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,1129,672
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,16141,184 5,41510,94316,7577,046 5,93410,59117,7016,958
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,5231,199 117367794245 262314332291
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,3375,800 1,0419792,9801,336 1,4311,2192,0051,145
Other 6,9236,2856,3167,4635,6155,294 1,6531,1801,2691,513 1,7851,1581,0741,277
                 
                Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.66.0
EU17.37.27.06.77.06.7 5.66.78.95.7 5.46.28.95.1
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.76.9 6.67.314.86.8 6.75.88.07.3
North America13.114.015.113.514.213.9 11.111.920.610.8 13.412.919.310.3
Other 17.919.717.820.116.116.9 17.713.719.114.8 19.816.616.614.5
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 6a (XLS 15KB)
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Table 6b Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure
& Average Length of Stay by Region Visited, 2010 - 2015
      '000
 2010201120123201320142015
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077
EU15,7975,5635,6735,5965,7256,173
Other Europe2281222202205157175
North America452410370405446417
Central, South & Other Americas625669403044
Asia & Middle East163127165127165137
Africa1107058868289
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania5266641197243
       
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477
EU142,23540,03839,71037,28140,16141,184
Other Europe22,3691,9661,4441,8791,5231,199
North America5,9475,7255,5765,4556,3375,800
Central, South & Other Americas825904985480494637
Asia & Middle East3,0012,2322,7552,3952,3272,208
Africa1,5821,3449849101,1111,388
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania1,5151,8051,5923,6781,6821,061
       
      € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.26,016.8
EU13,901.53,628.63,674.23,504.13,880.84,268.6
Other Europe2237.4202.2148.1186.9171.1164.8
North America876.5785.1760.4791.1846.8871.7
Central, South & Other Americas150.7127.3135.779.472.597.5
Asia & Middle East411.9332.7344.2343.1346.9302.4
Africa182.6136.6104.7110.8128.1189.4
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania135.1195.6178.0377.0152.2122.4
       
      Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6
EU17.37.27.06.77.06.7
Other Europe28.48.87.29.29.76.9
North America13.114.015.113.514.213.9
Central, South & Other Americas13.216.114.311.916.614.6
Asia & Middle East18.417.516.718.914.116.2
Africa14.419.317.010.613.515.6
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania29.027.525.031.023.324.7
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 6b (XLS 15KB)
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Table 7 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
                '000
 2010201120122201320142015 2014 2015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,2101,602
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,6584,171 5281,0251,387718 6671,1661,536802
Business621651551630698691 160204147187 170193142185
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,6761,547 340416464457 343407380417
Other1740769727626644668 145196158146 156163151197
                 
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,1129,672
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,79735,193 4,2458,54514,5025,505 5,0268,89715,7655,505
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,8402,544 669803646722 601745560638
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,29311,215 2,5432,8355,0302,885 2,9272,6463,2182,424
Other14,9075,6545,5185,0954,7054,525 7691,2871,6211,028 8589941,5681,105
                 
                € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.26,016.8 940.81,470.01,982.81,204.6 1,036.91,509.62,145.21,325.1
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.53,879.3 472.8886.61,403.6660.6 564.4985.61,577.4751.9
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8765.6 192.1204.0146.5204.1 187.4199.3160.2218.8
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3867.3 186.3238.3292.5244.2 189.2203.9263.5210.8
Other1581.5576.4528.4455.2466.6504.6 89.6141.1140.295.7 95.9120.9144.1143.7
                 
                Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.66.0
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.08.4 8.08.310.57.7 7.57.610.36.9
Business4.04.23.73.84.13.7 4.23.94.43.9 3.53.93.93.4
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.97.2 7.56.810.86.3 8.56.58.55.8
Other16.67.47.68.17.36.8 5.36.610.37.0 5.56.110.45.6
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 7 (XLS 16KB)
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Table 7a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average
Length of Stay by Reason for Journey, 2010 - 2015
      '000
 2010201120122201320142015
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077
Holiday3,9643,4333,7433,6563,6584,171
Business621651551630698691
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,5921,6621,5801,6671,6761,547
Education & Training1219085808577
Sporting Events224252273217236263
Work/Looking for work981131211157873
Other1297313248214245256
       
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477
Holiday37,65732,18333,76131,72532,79735,193
Business2,4952,7142,0172,3692,8402,544
Visiting Friends/Relatives12,41513,46211,75012,88913,29311,215
Education & Training1,1601,129978943943697
Sporting Events955969984907792865
Work/Looking for work1,0601,0691,8041,7961,3151,169
Other11,7322,4881,7521,4491,6541,794
       
      € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,895.75,408.15,345.25,392.55,598.26,016.8
Holiday3,812.93,148.63,302.13,205.83,423.53,879.3
Business628.5744.8589.7772.6746.8765.6
Visiting Friends/Relatives872.8938.4925.0958.9961.3867.3
Education & Training119.372.775.883.170.258.7
Sporting Events133.9134.5139.1124.2126.5165.0
Work/Looking for work91.2108.8124.790.875.494.8
Other1237.2260.4188.8157.1194.4186.1
       
      Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6
Holiday9.59.49.08.79.08.4
Business4.04.23.73.84.13.7
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.88.17.47.77.97.2
Education & Training9.612.611.511.811.19.1
Sporting Events4.33.83.64.23.43.3
Work/Looking for work10.89.415.015.616.916.0
Other15.87.97.16.86.77.0
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 7a (XLS 15KB)
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Table 8 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Percentage Distribution of Trips taken classified by
Method of Booking and Type of Booking, Quarter 4, 2014 - 2015
 Type of booking
          Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2014Q4 2015
Method of booking      
       
Internet      
    Direct19.914.577.479.347.748.0
    Via travel agent/tour operator53.154.35.66.17.04.8
       
Non internet      
    Direct4.31.92.11.94.95.5
    Via travel agent/tour operator17.027.31.51.41.10.9
       
No booking required0.00.011.08.636.337.9
       
Don't know5.72.02.32.83.12.9
       
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 8 (XLS 12KB)
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Table 9 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type of Accommodation, Q1 2014 - Q4 2015
                '000
 201020112012201320142015 2014 2015
        Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077 1,1721,8412,1561,507 1,3371,9292,2101,602
Hotel 3,0112,7252,6882,8823,0393,353 606802859772 698925907823
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,0231,118 122279442179 163270507177
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,7241,739 347453518405 386443460450
Other1955804873783891867 97307337151 90290336151
                 
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477 8,22613,46921,80010,140 9,41213,28221,1129,672
Hotel 18,38916,17014,88415,71017,41418,635 3,1834,3695,7994,063 3,2385,0636,4273,907
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,60511,508 1,2522,7765,8871,690 1,9992,1665,8381,505
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,97814,558 2,8143,3576,0592,748 3,2933,5054,7922,969
Other110,5718,9309,8448,7779,6398,776 9762,9684,0551,639 8822,5484,0551,291
                 
                Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6 7.07.310.16.7 7.06.99.66.0
Hotel 6.15.95.55.55.75.6 5.35.46.75.3 4.65.57.14.7
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.310.3 10.29.913.39.4 12.28.011.58.5
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.78.4 8.17.411.76.8 8.57.910.46.6
Other111.111.111.311.210.810.1 10.19.712.010.8 9.88.812.18.5
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.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 9 (XLS 15KB)
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Table 9a Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights & Average Length of Stay by Type
of Accommodation, 2010 - 2015
      '000
 201020112012201320142015
Total Outbound - Trips6,9176,5146,6006,5796,6767,077
Caravan/Camping262160214207272309
Guesthouse/B&B222206227176236174
Own Holiday Home206188167202152140
Hotel3,0112,7252,6882,8823,0393,353
Self Catering/Rented House1,2381,2151,2731,1301,0231,118
Friends/Relatives1,7131,7711,7661,7831,7241,739
Other1264249264199231244
       
Total Outbound - Nights57,47354,01453,04652,07853,63553,477
Caravan/Camping3,7791,8672,5472,4843,1213,362
Guesthouse/B&B1,3641,4881,7999351,4811,077
Own Holiday Home2,5583,0122,8493,1562,0981,711
Hotel18,38916,17014,88415,71017,41418,635
Self Catering/Rented House13,98213,59513,06013,05511,60511,508
Friends/Relatives14,53215,31815,25814,53714,97814,558
Other12,8702,5622,6492,2012,9402,625
       
      Nights
Average Length of Stay8.38.38.07.98.07.6
Caravan/Camping14.411.711.912.011.510.9
Guesthouse/B&B6.17.27.95.36.36.2
Own Holiday Home12.416.017.015.613.812.2
Hotel6.15.95.55.55.75.6
Self Catering/Rented House11.311.210.311.511.310.3
Friends/Relatives8.58.68.68.28.78.4
Other110.910.310.011.112.710.8
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey, Quarter 4 and Year 2015 Table 9a (XLS 14KB)
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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  

 

upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/hts/householdtravelsurveyquarter4andyear2015/

Contact:

Central Statistics Office
Skehard Road, Cork T12 X00E, Ireland

Tel:
(+353) 21 453 5000
E-Mail:
information@cso.ie

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