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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 1 2017

Domestic Trips '000 Outbound Trips '000
Quarter 1Quarter 1 Quarter 1Quarter 1
Reason for Journey20162017 20162017
Holiday958822 727838
Business114110 239205
Visiting Friends/Relatives754684 378390
Other243268 179173
Total2,0691,883 1,5231,607

Domestic trips decreased by 9% in Quarter 1 2017

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Domestic Travel

  • Irish residents took almost 1.9 million domestic trips in Quarter 1 2017, a decrease of 9% when compared to the same period twelve months earlier. This contrasts with a 19.5% increase in domestic trips in Quarter 1 2016 when compared with the same period in 2015. The number of trips taken is influenced by when Easter falls. In 2017 Easter Sunday fell on April 16th, while in 2016 it fell on March 27th. See Table 1.
  • Each trip had an average duration of 2.0 nights, resulting in 3.8 million bed nights. See Table 1.
  • Holidays accounted for 43.7% of all domestic trips, while more than one third (36.3%) were to visit friends or relatives. See Table 2.
  • Visitors who stayed in hotel accommodation accounted for 901,000 (47.8%) domestic trips in Quarter 1 2017 while those who stayed with family and friends accounted for 674,000 (35.8%) domestic trips. See Table 4. 
  • Total expenditure on domestic trips in Quarter 1 2017 amounted to €347.2 million. Just over €187 million of this was accounted for by those on holidays, while those visiting friends or relatives spent €82 million in the first quarter of 2017. See Table 2.

Outbound Travel

  • A total of 1.6 million outbound trips were undertaken by Irish residents in Quarter 1 2017, an increase of 5.5% over the same period last year.  See Table 5.
  • A total of 9.7 million bed nights were availed of by Irish residents travelling abroad in the first quarter of 2017.  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 624,000 and 267,000 respectively. See Tables 6 and 6a.
  • Over half (52.1%) of all outbound trips were classified as holidays, while almost a quarter (24.3%) were for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives. See Table 7.
  • Visitors who stayed in hotels accounted for 3.8 million nights, those staying with family and friends accounted for over 2.7 million nights and those staying in self-catering/rented house accommodation accounted for almost 2 million nights.  See Table 9.
  • Irish residents spent €1,226 million on outbound trips in Quarter 1 2017, of which almost €652 million was spent on holidays, €263 million on business trips and over €180 million on visiting friends and relatives.  See Table 7.
Table 1 Domestic travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights, Expenditure & Average Length of Stay, Q1 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,2821,7312,1813,1872,0262,0692,0403,1592,0141,883
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,4353,5455,30812,0544,3604,5584,88311,5464,4483,778
               
                 € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,514.21,533.01,713.51,725.31,776.1 269.1393.6701.9360.6 326.9366.1692.3390.8347.2
                 
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.7 2.02.43.82.2 2.22.43.72.2 2.0
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 1 (XLS 12KB)
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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 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016 2015 20162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,282 1,7312,1813,1872,026 2,0692,0403,1592,0141,883
Border, Midland and Western2,4402,6352,8982,8742,993 5756411,058600 6716141,017691606
Southern and Eastern5,8515,7796,0936,2516,289 1,1561,5402,1291,426 1,3981,4262,1421,3231,277
                 
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,435 3,5455,30812,0544,360 4,5584,88311,5464,4483,778
Border, Midland and Western7,0788,0959,1408,5718,498 1,2431,7174,2721,340 1,5631,5473,6731,7141,274
Southern and Eastern16,62616,09916,94616,69616,936 2,3023,5917,7823,021 2,9953,3357,8722,7342,504
                 
                 € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,514.21,533.01,713.51,725.31,776.1 269.1393.6701.9360.6 326.9366.1692.3390.8347.2
Border, Midland and Western461.9505.4569.1559.4577.5 88.4120.3250.0100.7 107.2114.9209.5145.9108.0
Southern and Eastern1,052.31,027.61,144.41,165.91,198.7 180.7273.3451.9259.9 219.7251.2482.8244.9 239.2
                 
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.7 2.02.43.82.2 2.22.43.72.22.0
Border, Midland and Western2.93.13.23.02.8 2.22.74.02.2 2.32.53.62.52.1
Southern and Eastern2.82.82.82.72.7 2.02.33.72.1 2.12.33.72.1 2.0
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 1a (XLS 11KB)
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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 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,2821,7312,1813,1872,0262,0692,0403,1592,0141,883
Holiday4,0364,0734,4364,6584,8307671,0631,9688609581,0741,884914822
Business3503644534074251251085412011411661134110
Visiting Friends/Relatives2,7652,9882,9182,9213,032613708797804754607912760684
Other11,1409881,1841,138994226302368242243244302206268
               
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,4353,5455,30812,0544,3604,5584,88311,5464,4483,778
Holiday12,77113,98614,42414,75115,0161,6192,8308,4491,8532,1512,7248,1332,0081,631
Business69361690467275218921970194186227103235179
Visiting Friends/Relatives7,0337,0957,3356,8777,2241,2571,4662,3831,7711,7261,3042,4521,7431,383
Other13,2062,4983,4232,9672,4434817921,152543495628857463585
               
                 € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,514.21,533.01,713.51,725.31,776.1269.1393.6701.9360.6326.9366.1692.3390.8347.2
Holiday876.2947.2992.81,070.41,123.9138.3233.9503.9194.3193.2225.5485.3220.0187.2
Business80.584.2110.398.0104.727.330.511.428.825.131.013.135.532.1
Visiting Friends/Relatives289.6284.8327.0296.5294.558.364.698.575.164.153.993.083.582.3
Other1268.0216.8283.4260.4253.0 45.264.688.262.4 44.655.7100.951.8 45.6
                
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.72.02.43.82.22.22.43.72.22.0
Holiday3.23.43.33.23.12.12.74.32.22.22.54.32.22.0
Business2.01.72.01.61.81.52.01.31.61.62.01.71.81.6
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.52.42.52.42.42.12.13.02.22.32.12.72.32.0
Other12.82.52.92.62.5 2.12.63.12.2 2.02.62.82.2 2.2
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 1 2017 Table 2 (XLS 15KB)
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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, 2012 - 2016
     '000
 20122013201420152016
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,282
Holiday4,0364,0734,4364,6584,830
Business350364453407425
Visiting Friends/Relatives2,7652,9882,9182,9213,032
Education & Training155142128167153
Sporting Events295269396331290
Work/Looking for work130841018083
Other1560493559559468
      
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,435
Holiday12,77113,98614,42414,75115,016
Business693616904672752
Visiting Friends/Relatives7,0337,0957,3356,8777,224
Education & Training1,046721745952751
Sporting Events567495755630561
Work/Looking for work442266368259209
Other11,1491,0161,5561,126921
      
     € million
Total Domestic - Expenditure1,514.21,533.01,713.51,725.31,776.1
Holiday876.2947.2992.81,070.41,123.9
Business80.584.2110.398.0104.7
Visiting Friends/Relatives289.6284.8327.0296.5294.5
Education & Training53.446.440.660.752.6
Sporting Events53.349.967.358.763.3
Work/Looking for work37.916.921.017.918.1
Other1123.4103.6154.5123.1119.0
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.7
Holiday3.23.43.33.23.1
Business2.01.72.01.61.8
Visiting Friends/Relatives2.52.42.52.42.4
Education & Training6.85.15.85.74.9
Sporting Events1.91.81.91.91.9
Work/Looking for work3.43.23.63.22.5
Other12.12.12.82.02.0
1 Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 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 1, 2016 - 2017
 Type of booking
Method of booking         Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q1 2016Q1 2017Q1 2016Q1 2017Q1 2016Q1 2017
       
Internet      
    Direct46.042.66.95.835.235.8
    Via travel agent/tour operator13.521.80.20.53.13.3
       
Non internet      
    Direct30.228.82.73.411.813.3
    Via travel agent/tour operator0.00.80.10.20.30.2
       
No booking required0.00.089.389.848.346.2
       
Don't know10.36.00.80.41.31.1
       
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 1 2017 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 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,2821,7312,1813,1872,0262,0692,0403,1592,0141,883
Hotel 3,3133,3823,6303,7043,6268118321,156904937774994920901
Self Catering/Rented House6447248308278521092194039613821040310294
Friends/Relatives2,8962,9562,9963,0113,2436017089427607396551,071778674
Other11,4381,3511,5351,5831,560210422685266255401690214215
               
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,4353,5455,30812,0544,3604,5584,88311,5464,4483,778
Hotel6,9776,7817,2077,1337,0681,3991,5512,6011,5821,6641,4762,3231,6041,471
Self Catering/Rented House3,2373,7144,2403,8963,7733368492,4222893808112,151432303
Friends/Relatives7,9357,6958,1577,9178,5441,2571,5753,2891,7951,7181,4923,4741,8601,451
Other15,5546,0056,4826,3216,0505531,3333,7416947961,1043,598553554
               
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.72.02.43.82.22.22.43.72.22.0
Hotel 2.12.02.01.91.91.71.92.21.81.81.92.31.71.6
Self Catering/Rented House5.05.15.14.74.43.13.96.03.02.83.95.34.23.2
Friends/Relatives2.72.62.72.62.62.12.23.52.42.32.33.22.42.2
Other13.94.44.24.03.9 2.63.25.52.6 3.12.85.22.6 2.6
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 1 2017 Table 4 (XLS 14KB)
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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, 2012 - 2016
     '000
 20122013201420152016
Total Domestic - Trips8,2918,4138,9919,1259,282
Guesthouse/B&B367330425475411
Own Holiday Home477407444544485
Hotel3,3133,3823,6303,7043,626
Self Catering/Rented House644724830827852
Friends/Relatives2,8962,9562,9963,0113,243
Other1594615666564665
      
Total Domestic - Nights23,70324,19526,08625,26725,435
Guesthouse/B&B9348451,1001,007975
Own Holiday Home1,7872,2462,0182,9422,186
Hotel6,9776,7817,2077,1337,068
Self Catering/Rented House3,2373,7144,2403,8963,773
Friends/Relatives7,9357,6958,1577,9178,544
Other12,8332,9133,3642,3722,889
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay2.92.92.92.82.7
Guesthouse/B&B2.52.62.62.12.4
Own Holiday Home3.85.54.55.44.5
Hotel2.12.02.01.91.9
Self Catering/Rented House5.05.15.14.74.4
Friends/Relatives2.72.62.72.62.6
Other14.84.75.14.24.3
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise, Caravan/Camping and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 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 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646 1,3501,9262,2181,600 1,5232,0022,3231,7981,607
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753 9,44013,26221,1359,678 10,84214,05321,38610,4729,714
               
                 € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,342.55,384.25,590.26,022.16,539.4 1,040.71,510.12,146.71,324.6 1,224.21,582.02,273.71,459.41,225.9
                 
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4 7.06.99.56.0 7.17.09.25.8 6.0
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 5 (XLS 12KB)
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Table 6 Outbound travel by Irish Residents - Number of Trips, Number of Nights and Expenditure by Country/Region Visited, Q1 2015 - Q1 2017
                '000
 20122013201420152016 201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646 1,3501,9262,2181,6001,5232,0022,3231,7981,607
France630538586632611 972002597613216421510091
Germany163164220203230 294456734859517253
Italy348284274418362 641301527277911415368
Portugal3513223703134811011014350341781848655
Spain1,3391,3671,2901,5521,593 195505587264233516575269267
United Kingdom (GB & NI)2,2372,4072,3552,2692,460 575516556623607518633702624
   Of which : Great Britain1,7842,0111,9651,9332,004 493457470513515432526532519
                     Northern Ireland453396390336456 8259851119386107170105
Other Europe17727247819551,004 188249276242222269283231268
North America388404453422490 99951181108910515214493
Asia & Middle East177133173165223 573131473350568452
All other areas216232174164192 374539434853345736
                
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753 9,44013,26221,1359,67810,84214,05321,38610,4729,714
France5,8255,1765,1295,5655,361 5691,6053,0153767951,1812,897489940
Germany9257311,2981,2141,134 164306346398250273306305266
Italy2,8462,1792,3153,0972,933 3487571,4915015726811,390290347
Portugal3,3752,8713,3372,7463,928 1057791,5752862571,2261,787659280
Spain12,49712,69012,87214,03414,690 1,8244,0856,0132,1122,3564,3885,6922,2541,823
United Kingdom (GB & NI)9,2399,5319,7638,8269,028 1,9881,9882,8771,9732,6691,6512,6372,0712,120
   Of which : Great Britain7,9918,5288,6757,9758,021 1,8151,8462,5511,7632,4241,4612,4251,7101,873
                     Northern Ireland1,2481,0031,0888501,007 172142326210245189212360247
Other Europe15,6285,5666,9836,3466,4021,1861,3052,4781,3771,3961,7112,3129831,509
North America5,8385,6916,2955,8776,226 1,2581,2152,1671,2371,0121,1992,6021,414841
Asia & Middle East2,9772,4672,4922,8113,332 1,1754454847075137201,0251,073860
All other areas3,9625,0833,1683,0003,720 8237786887101,0221,025739934728
               
                 € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,342.55,384.25,590.26,022.16,539.41,040.71,510.12,146.71,324.61,224.21,582.02,273.71,459.41,225.9
France495.6433.2473.3486.0446.173.4147.3218.347.087.5114.5194.949.273.2
Germany111.599.3138.5126.5160.016.621.944.943.137.237.541.743.630.3
Italy311.8256.1254.7374.7359.244.596.0161.672.663.680.4186.528.844.9
Portugal299.5246.5302.7269.3385.310.977.4149.131.921.5129.8176.457.626.6
Spain1,093.01,101.41,141.31,317.71,433.3149.9349.2591.2227.4201.2398.8624.6208.7185.0
United Kingdom (GB & NI)871.8924.0973.11,030.3993.3249.6220.8266.6293.3240.9184.5290.2277.7250.8
   Of which : Great Britain789.0864.9897.2946.5907.9229.8204.7240.9271.1226.8169.3267.1244.6228.2
                     Northern Ireland82.759.175.983.885.519.816.125.722.214.115.223.133.122.6
Other Europe1545.4568.6704.2739.4783.5122.2208.2260.1148.9179.5195.2259.9149.0192.0
North America787.0819.0890.2925.71,045.5191.9218.4292.8222.5184.8252.3321.0287.4177.0
Asia & Middle East346.2371.6347.0368.5476.2106.171.561.4129.497.885.496.0196.9159.7
All other areas480.6564.4365.2383.9456.9 75.499.3100.5108.6 110.3103.482.5160.6 86.4
1All other EU member states and all other European countries.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 6 (XLS 18KB)
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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 2015 - Q1 2017
                '000
 20122013201420152016 201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646 1,3501,9262,2181,600 1,5232,0022,3231,798 1,607
EU15,6475,6145,7356,1616,600 1,1201,7061,9931,342 1,3261,7582,0371,479 1,394
Other Europe2194191142181141 39483657 27364434 33
North America388404453422490 9995118110 89105152144 93
Other 394365347329415 93767090 8110390141 88
                  
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753 9,44013,26221,1359,678 10,84214,05321,38610,472 9,714
EU138,98837,10340,23740,56442,504 5,93810,54217,5256,560 8,07710,87116,6876,868 7,096
Other Europe21,3481,6411,4601,263972 247282270464 218238334182 190
North America5,8385,6916,2955,8776,226 1,2581,2152,1671,237 1,0121,1992,6021,414 841
Other 6,9397,5505,6605,8117,052 1,9981,2241,1721,417 1,5361,7451,7632,007 1,587
                  
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4 7.06.99.56.0 7.17.09.25.8 6.0
EU16.96.67.06.66.4 5.36.28.84.9 6.16.28.24.6 5.1
Other Europe27.08.610.37.06.9 6.45.87.48.1 8.16.67.55.4 5.8
North America15.014.113.913.912.7 12.712.718.411.2 11.311.417.29.8 9.1
Other 17.620.716.317.717.0 21.416.216.715.8 18.916.919.714.2 18.1
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 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, 2012 - 2016
     '000
 20122013201420152016
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646
EU15,6475,6145,7356,1616,600
Other Europe2194191142181141
North America388404453422490
Central, South & Other Americas7439324056
Asia & Middle East177133173165223
Africa6678878066
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania76115564470
      
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753
EU138,98837,10340,23740,56442,504
Other Europe21,3481,6411,4601,263972
North America5,8385,6916,2955,8776,226
Central, South & Other Americas1,050492526629886
Asia & Middle East2,9772,4672,4922,8113,332
Africa1,0299501,3861,2441,282
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania1,8833,6421,2561,1271,552
      
     € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,342.55,384.25,590.26,022.16,539.4
EU13,590.53,456.23,831.34,185.94,438.7
Other Europe2138.1173.1156.4158.1122.2
North America787.0819.0890.2925.71,045.5
Central, South & Other Americas142.177.088.696.1153.0
Asia & Middle East346.2371.6347.0368.5476.2
Africa120.0111.4142.3168.4117.6
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania218.5376.0134.2119.4186.3
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4
EU16.96.67.06.66.4
Other Europe27.08.610.37.06.9
North America15.014.113.913.912.7
Central, South & Other Americas14.112.616.515.815.7
Asia & Middle East16.818.614.417.014.9
Africa15.512.116.015.519.5
Australia, New Zealand & Oceania24.831.722.625.722.3
1From 1st July 2013, EU includes Croatia.
2Other Europe includes Croatia until the 30th June 2013.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 6b (XLS 14KB)
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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 2015 - Q1 2017
                 '000
 20122013201420152016 201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646 1,3501,9262,2181,600 1,5232,0022,3231,798 1,607
Holiday3,8173,6593,6754,2194,250 6741,1911,579776 7271,1611,528834 838
Business584652729767901 200210144213 239233149280 205
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,4721,6241,6201,4301,751 318357336419 378405493475 390
Other1750639652678744 159168159192 179203151210 173
                  
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753 9,44013,26221,1359,678 10,84214,05321,38610,472 9,714
Holiday34,46231,72633,09535,27635,125 4,8399,14316,0215,273 5,8109,11914,7565,440 4,946
Business2,1992,3942,9802,9054,075 753801563788 1,2519296581,237 754
Visiting Friends/Relatives10,50212,14112,76310,29811,931 2,7462,2272,8742,452 2,5692,5904,0782,694 2,792
Other15,9505,7254,8145,0375,622 1,1031,0921,6781,164 1,2121,4161,8941,101 1,222
                  
                 € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,342.55,384.25,590.26,022.16,539.4 1,040.71,510.12,146.71,324.6 1,224.21,582.02,273.71,459.4 1,225.9
Holiday3,371.63,192.83,391.13,836.33,938.1 543.0981.01,597.6714.6 630.8938.11,604.0765.1 651.7
Business631.4812.4812.6880.61,099.6 222.9222.7169.4265.6 289.5281.2182.4346.5 263.1
Visiting Friends/Relatives800.9888.0912.1759.7898.6 168.1170.5225.5195.6 169.0209.9309.9209.7 180.4
Other1538.6491.0474.3545.5603.1 106.7135.8154.2148.9 134.9152.8177.3138.1 130.8
                  
                 Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4 7.06.99.56.0 7.17.09.25.8 6.0
Holiday9.08.79.08.48.3 7.27.710.16.8 8.07.99.76.5 5.9
Business3.83.74.13.84.5 3.83.83.93.7 5.24.04.44.4 3.7
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.17.57.97.26.8 8.66.28.65.8 6.86.48.35.7 7.2
Other17.99.07.47.47.6 7.06.510.66.1 6.87.012.55.2 7.1
1Other 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 1 2017 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, 2012 - 2016
     '000
 20122013201420152016
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646
Holiday3,8173,6593,6754,2194,250
Business584652729767901
Visiting Friends/Relatives1,4721,6241,6201,4301,751
Education & Training10285858895
Sporting Events300222255291262
Work/Looking for work120135115104105
Other1227197198194282
      
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753
Holiday34,46231,72633,09535,27635,125
Business2,1992,3942,9802,9054,075
Visiting Friends/Relatives10,50212,14112,76310,29811,931
Education & Training1,1361,0011,0249311,075
Sporting Events1,0819327729201,147
Work/Looking for work2,0782,4361,7221,6511,608
Other11,6551,3561,2961,5351,792
      
     € million
Total Outbound - Expenditure5,342.55,384.25,590.26,022.16,539.4
Holiday3,371.63,192.83,391.13,836.33,938.1
Business631.4812.4812.6880.61,099.6
Visiting Friends/Relatives800.9888.0912.1759.7898.6
Education & Training78.790.172.371.086.1
Sporting Events151.3126.3124.0168.1175.7
Work/Looking for work131.1122.1114.1154.6135.0
Other1177.4152.5163.9151.9206.2
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4
Holiday9.08.79.08.48.3
Business3.83.74.13.84.5
Visiting Friends/Relatives7.17.57.97.26.8
Education & Training11.211.812.010.511.3
Sporting Events3.64.23.03.24.4
Work/Looking for work17.218.015.015.815.4
Other17.36.96.57.96.3
1Other includes Health & Medical, Religious, Shopping and other reasons not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 7a (XLS 14KB)
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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 1, 2016 - 2017
 Type of booking
          Package1 %         Transport2 %         Accommodation3 %
 Q1 2016Q1 2017Q1 2016Q1 2017Q1 2016Q1 2017
Method of booking      
       
Internet      
    Direct26.317.781.781.547.952.4
    Via travel agent/tour operator55.254.16.26.27.69.4
       
Non internet      
    Direct2.76.21.72.05.12.9
    Via travel agent/tour operator14.618.70.91.00.61.7
       
No booking required0.00.07.16.936.531.3
       
Don't know1.13.32.42.42.22.3
       
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 1 2017 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 2015 - Q1 2017
                '000
 20122013201420152016 201520162017
       Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-MarApr-JunJul-SepOct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646 1,3501,9262,2181,600 1,5232,0022,3231,798 1,607
Hotel 2,6902,8733,0953,3673,455 710960875821 718926845966 855
Self Catering/Rented House1,3641,1821,0511,2111,522 170305561176 260424595243 232
Friends/Relatives1,6611,7171,6501,6801,845 389374426492 428421538458 385
Other1907803882836825 82287356112 117232345131 135
                  
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753 9,44013,26221,1359,678 10,84214,05321,38610,472 9,714
Hotel 14,49215,41618,07818,19218,962 3,1695,2236,1743,625 3,8335,0555,5824,493 3,804
Self Catering/Rented House14,08113,70511,72012,15114,798 2,0612,3966,1561,537 2,5013,6246,6642,009 1,983
Friends/Relatives14,34413,87514,16014,34113,908 3,1543,0834,6093,496 3,0533,0284,9342,893 2,725
Other110,1958,9899,6958,8329,086 1,0572,5604,1961,020 1,4562,3464,2061,077 1,202
                  
                Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4 7.06.99.56.0 7.17.09.25.8 6.0
Hotel 5.45.45.85.45.5 4.55.47.14.4 5.35.56.64.6 4.4
Self Catering/Rented House10.311.611.110.09.7 12.17.911.08.8 9.68.511.28.3 8.6
Friends/Relatives8.68.18.68.57.5 8.18.210.87.1 7.17.29.26.3 7.1
Other111.211.211.010.611.0 12.98.911.89.1 12.510.112.28.2 8.9
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 1 2017 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, 2012 - 2016
     '000
 20122013201420152016
Total Outbound - Trips6,6236,5756,6777,0947,646
Guesthouse/B&B234171213144194
Own Holiday Home148181123109152
Hotel2,6902,8733,0953,3673,455
Self Catering/Rented House1,3641,1821,0511,2111,522
Friends/Relatives1,6611,7171,6501,6801,845
Other1525451545583479
      
Total Outbound - Nights53,11251,98553,65253,51556,753
Guesthouse/B&B1,9311,0221,3769551,351
Own Holiday Home2,5712,7221,6981,3902,311
Hotel14,49215,41618,07818,19218,962
Self Catering/Rented House14,08113,70511,72012,15114,798
Friends/Relatives14,34413,87514,16014,34113,908
Other15,6925,2456,6216,4865,423
      
     Nights
Average Length of Stay8.07.98.07.57.4
Guesthouse/B&B8.26.06.46.67.0
Own Holiday Home17.315.013.812.715.2
Hotel5.45.45.85.45.5
Self Catering/Rented House10.311.611.110.09.7
Friends/Relatives8.68.18.68.57.5
Other110.811.612.111.111.3
1Other includes stays in Health Farm/Spa, Ship/Cruise, Caravan/Camping and other types of accommodation not elsewhere specified.
Open in Excel: Household Travel Survey Quarter 1 2017 Table 9a (XLS 13KB)
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Background Notes

Periodicity

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 2015 Electoral Register, where the selection is stratified by District Electoral Division.

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

Methodological Change

      Domestic Travel

From Quarter 1 2012 onwards, survey data for domestic travel is weighted to agree with population estimates broken down by sex, age group and region (NUTS 3). These population estimates are provided by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). These weightings are then applied to survey results.

      Outbound Travel

From Quarter 1 2012 onwards, survey data for outbound travel are weighted to agree with population estimates broken down by sex, age group and region (NUTS 3). These 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.

       Revisions to data

There have been revisions to domestic and outbound travel data from Quarter 1 2012 onwards as a result of the change to the weighting methodology. Revised data are published in Quarter 1 2016 release. A summary of the effect of these revisions is shown in the enclosed table.

Table : Household Travel Survey - summary effect of revisions of data due to changed methodology

  2012  2013  2014  2015
Total Domestic - Trips '000 (data pre revision)  7,031  7,111  7,354  7,529
Total Domestic - Trips '000 (data revised)  8,291  8,413  8,991  9,125
% Difference  17.9%  18.3%  22.3%  21.2%
         
Total Domestic - Nights '000 (data pre revision)  20,120  20,649  21,204  20,931
Total Domestic - Nights '000 (data revised)  23,703  24,195  26,086  25,267
% Difference  17.8%  17.2%  23.0%  20.7%
         
Domestic - Expenditure €m (data pre revision) 1,345.4 1,373.2 1,464.0 1,529.9
Domestic - Expenditure €m (data revised) 1,514.2 1,533.0 1,713.5 1,725.3
% Difference 12.5% 11.6% 17.0% 12.8%
 
 
Total Outbound - Trips '000 (data pre revision) 6,600 6,579  6,676  7,077 
Total Outbound - Trips '000 (data revised) 6,623 6,575  6,677  7,094 
% Difference 0.3%  -0.1%  0.0%  0.2% 
         
Total Outbound - Nights '000 (data pre revision)  53,046  52,078  53,635  53,477
Total Outbound - Nights '000 (data revised)  53,112  51,985  53,652  53,515
% Difference  0.1%  -0.2%  0.0%  0.1%
         
Outbound - Expenditure €m (data pre revision)  5,345.2  5,392.5  5,598.2  6,016.8
Outbound - Expenditure €m (data revised)  5,342.5  5,384.2  5,590.2  6,022.1
% Difference  -0.1%  -0.2%  -0.1%  0.1%


Break in series

Arising from these changes, discontinuities in all of the series relating to outbound and domestic travel have occurred. Therefore, these results are not directly comparable with the results prior to Quarter 1 2012.

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 Tourism and Travel Survey (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 Tourism and Travel Survey (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 €200 million 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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http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/hts/householdtravelsurveyquarter12017/

Contact:

Central Statistics Office
Skehard Road, Cork T12 X00E, Ireland

Tel:
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