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E-mail: tourism@cso.ie Gregg Patrick (+353) 21 4535202 James Mahon (+353) 21 4535463
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CSO statistical release, , 11am

Overseas Travel

December 2019

     
 Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
  Trips to Ireland Great Britain Other EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
   
December 2017558,200 682,400 298,500214,900119,40049,700
December 2018572,900 738,300 294,400250,400141,70051,800
December 2019564,500 779,200 314,300276,100134,60054,200
Jan - Dec 20177,939,000 9,932,100 3,728,9003,482,4002,101,500619,300
Jan - Dec 20188,276,200 10,616,300 3,759,0003,812,7002,383,800660,700
Jan - Dec 20198,814,400 10,807,500 3,787,7003,910,2002,412,500697,200

Trips to Ireland increased by 1.8% in 2019

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In 2019, the total number of trips to Ireland by overseas residents was 10,807,500, an increase of 1.8% over 2018. There was an increase of 6.5% in the number of overseas trips made by Irish residents in 2019 to over 8.8 million. See tables 3 and 4.

Trips by residents of Great Britain increased by 0.8% in 2019 to 3,787,700 while trips by residents of European Countries other than Great Britain (Other Europe) increased by 2.6% to 3,910,200.  Trips by residents of USA and Canada to Ireland increased by 1.2% to 2,412,500 while trips to Ireland from Other Areas increased by 5.5% to 697,200. See tables 3 and 4.

In December 2019, the total number of trips to Ireland rose to 779,200 – an increase of 5.5% compared to twelve months earlier.  See tables 1 and 2.

The total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents during December 2019 decreased by 1.5% to 564,500.  See tables 1 and 2.

The total number of trips (Irish residents’ trips overseas plus trips to Ireland) in December 2019 increased by 2.5% to 1,343,700 when compared to twelve months earlier.  See tables 1 and 2.

X-axis labelGreat BritainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaOther areas
December 1729850021490011940049700
December 1829440025040014170051800
December 1931430027610013460054200
Table 1 Overseas Trips by Area of Residence, 2016 - 2019
      Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
YearPeriodAll Trips Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great BritainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
2016January990,100 469,100 521,000 249,900165,20069,70036,100
 February1,001,700 440,700 561,000 300,700186,00052,10022,200
 March1,270,600 567,900 702,700 300,800248,400116,40037,100
 April1,343,500 544,700 798,800 356,600291,300116,30034,600
 May 1,531,600 650,300 881,300 333,000321,900181,50044,800
 June1,699,100 780,300 918,800 324,000315,300222,40057,200
 July1,865,500 822,200 1,043,300 359,900383,100231,70068,700
 August1,880,900 755,100 1,125,900 448,700397,800213,50065,800
 September1,568,000 675,600 892,400 339,900304,400192,30055,700
 October1,488,100 655,800 832,300 321,500276,800188,70045,300
 November1,169,600 527,400 642,200 285,500206,100114,50036,000
 December1,180,200 515,500 664,800 303,600205,800108,90046,400
 Total16,989,000 7,404,500 9,584,400 3,924,1003,302,1001,808,000550,200
            
2017January1,072,700 508,500 564,100 252,600176,60091,00043,900
 February1,018,900 506,900 512,000 232,900170,90075,50032,700
 March1,273,200 553,300 720,000 310,500248,500126,80034,100
 April1,510,500 677,200 833,300 312,400322,400155,70042,800
 May 1,582,900 639,400 943,400 327,500342,900213,80059,300
 June1,795,100 802,400 992,700 309,300356,700259,50067,100
 July1,957,200 925,700 1,031,500 341,800375,900240,40073,400
 August1,974,100 856,600 1,117,600 396,100389,600256,70075,200
 September1,659,400 712,800 946,600 327,300321,400235,50062,400
 October1,545,000 674,700 870,300 322,500311,800190,40045,600
 November1,241,500 523,300 718,200 297,500250,900136,80033,000
 December1,240,700 558,200 682,400 298,500214,900119,40049,700
 Total17,871,100 7,939,000 9,932,100 3,728,9003,482,4002,101,500619,300
            
2018January1,133,500 548,000 585,500 241,500206,50093,80043,600
 February1,067,800 492,400 575,300 263,500202,10079,60030,100
 March1,318,500 558,600 759,800 293,300269,700158,20038,700
 April1,558,200 658,400 899,900 322,700352,900178,60045,700
 May1,736,900 711,200 1,025,600 349,900385,300234,70055,800
 June1,904,900 878,500 1,026,400 315,300366,300275,90069,000
 July2,065,900 905,400 1,160,500 353,300422,800299,30085,200
 August2,072,500 870,400 1,202,100 405,000427,200286,80083,200
 September1,763,400 795,100 968,200 297,600343,500261,40065,700
 October1,649,800 716,300 933,500 322,700328,600228,90053,400
 November1,309,900 568,900 741,000 299,900257,600144,90038,600
 December1,311,100 572,900 738,300 294,400250,400141,70051,800
 Total18,892,500 8,276,200 10,616,300 3,759,0003,812,7002,383,800660,700
            
2019January1,188,200 536,900 651,300 266,700231,600105,30047,700
 February1,147,000 556,300 590,700 258,100208,90086,80036,900
 March1,418,600 634,000 784,700 284,300289,500175,20035,600
 April1,683,300 745,100 938,300 339,000364,600185,20049,400
 May1,787,600 765,900 1,021,700 334,500367,400260,10059,700
 June1,954,400 892,600 1,061,800 311,700372,800300,90076,400
 July2,124,000 968,900 1,155,100 355,500419,700291,20088,700
 August2,164,200 973,600 1,190,600 393,900427,900282,50086,300
 September1,820,200 831,500 988,700 315,600355,700250,90066,400
 October1,689,800 733,000 956,800 336,400355,900208,80055,700
 November1,300,900 612,300 688,600 277,600240,000131,10040,000
 December1,343,700 564,500 779,200 314,300276,100134,60054,200
 Total19,622,000 8,814,400 10,807,500 3,787,7003,910,2002,412,500697,200
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 1 (XLS 41KB)
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Table 2 Annual Change in Overseas Trips for the month of December, 2018 - 2019
      Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
YearPeriodAll Trips Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great BritainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
Change versus corresponding period of previous year (number)
2018December70,400 14,700 55,900 -4,10035,50022,3002,100
2019December32,600 -8,400 40,900 19,90025,700-7,1002,400
           
Change versus corresponding period of previous year (%)
2018December5.7 2.6 8.2 -1.416.518.74.2
2019December2.5 -1.5 5.5 6.810.3-5.04.6
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 2 (XLS 31KB)
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Table 3 Overseas Trips for the period January - December, 2017 - 2019
     Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
   Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great Britain Other EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
YearAll Trips   
201717,871,100 7,939,000 9,932,100 3,728,9003,482,4002,101,500619,300
           
201818,892,500 8,276,200 10,616,300 3,759,0003,812,7002,383,800660,700
           
201919,622,000 8,814,400 10,807,500 3,787,7003,910,2002,412,500697,200
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 3 (XLS 31KB)
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Table 4 Annual Change in Overseas Trips for the period January - December, 2018 - 2019
     Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
   Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great Britain Other EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
YearAll Trips   
   Annual change in year to December total (number)
20181,021,400 337,200 684,200 30,100330,300282,30041,400
           
2019729,500 538,200 191,200 28,70097,50028,70036,500
           
   Annual change in year to December total (%)
20185.7 4.2 6.9 0.89.513.46.7
           
20193.9 6.5 1.8 0.82.61.25.5
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 4 (XLS 31KB)
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Table 5 Overseas Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence by month, 2016 - 2019
YearPeriod Trips to IrelandGreat Britain FranceGermanyItalySpainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaAustralia, New Zealand and Other OceaniaOther Areas
2016January 521,000249,90027,60026,40016,40017,00077,80069,70013,60022,500
 February 561,000300,70030,50032,00019,40025,00079,00052,1005,30017,000
 March 702,700300,80039,40045,80025,80029,300108,100116,40012,50024,600
 April 798,800356,60052,30049,90035,00033,300120,700116,30011,40023,200
 May 881,300333,00058,80073,30027,80031,100131,000181,50016,60028,200
 June 918,800324,00053,60069,10033,20035,600123,900222,40023,10034,100
 July 1,043,300359,90063,30072,10053,30050,800143,600231,70026,50042,100
 August  1,125,900448,70065,60081,40045,80049,400155,600213,50026,00039,800
 September 892,400339,90042,20069,50030,20036,800125,800192,30020,70035,000
 October 832,300321,50045,50061,70020,80032,100116,600188,70017,70027,700
 November 642,200285,50026,20038,50019,10025,50096,800114,50013,00023,100
 December 664,800303,60026,40032,50017,60029,100100,200108,90018,10028,300
 Total 9,584,4003,924,100531,400652,200344,400394,9001,379,1001,808,000204,500345,700
             
2017January 564,100252,60028,40028,30016,00022,50081,40091,00016,60027,400
 February 512,000232,90037,30028,10015,10020,10070,20075,5008,10024,700
 March 720,000310,50041,30043,00029,10031,900103,200126,80010,40023,800
 April 833,300312,40054,20061,40031,60044,700130,500155,70013,20029,600
 May 943,400327,50060,00069,80030,90039,400142,800213,80019,00040,300
 June 992,700309,30055,00078,50034,90050,500137,800259,50022,00045,100
 July 1,031,500341,80056,30074,70044,10052,300148,500240,40026,20047,200
 August  1,117,600396,10062,30077,90050,60057,300141,500256,70027,80047,400
 September 946,600327,30045,10072,20035,40037,000131,700235,50022,20040,100
 October 870,300322,50046,20067,70028,30032,300137,400190,40014,80030,800
 November 718,200297,50032,20043,50025,40029,500120,300136,80010,70022,400
 December 682,400298,50030,90036,30022,00025,600100,100119,40017,60032,100
 Total 9,932,1003,728,900549,300681,400363,300443,2001,445,2002,101,500208,500410,800
             
2018January 585,500241,50029,10036,30019,80022,20099,20093,80015,70027,900
 February 575,300263,50027,80037,30023,80023,00090,30079,6008,00022,200
 March 759,800293,30040,60056,20027,60033,300112,000158,20011,30027,400
 April 899,900322,70056,40070,00040,70040,700145,100178,60014,60031,000
 May 1,025,600349,90065,40089,90030,50043,900155,500234,70018,40037,300
 June 1,026,400315,30056,10084,80037,20042,400145,900275,90025,40043,600
 July 1,160,500353,30061,10086,00053,40058,100164,100299,30028,30056,900
 August 1,202,100405,00065,90098,30053,00051,900158,000286,80031,30051,900
 September 968,200297,60048,00086,60035,70038,500134,700261,40025,30040,400
 October 933,500322,70044,90075,40028,60032,600147,000228,90018,00035,300
 November 741,000299,90032,90049,40029,40029,500116,400144,90011,60027,000
 December 738,300294,40036,60047,50029,40027,100109,900141,70020,40031,400
 Total 10,616,3003,759,000564,800817,800409,100443,1001,578,0002,383,800228,500432,300
             
2019January 651,300266,70034,50039,80023,70028,500105,100105,30016,70031,100
 February 590,700258,10032,00037,40016,60021,000101,80086,8008,30028,700
 March 784,700284,30050,80055,50026,60037,500119,100175,2007,60028,000
 April 938,300339,00064,10074,80036,60043,300145,900185,20014,50034,900
 May 1,021,700334,50058,40082,80032,80036,000157,300260,10018,90040,800
 June 1,061,800311,70050,50088,50028,70040,700164,400300,90025,10051,300
 July 1,155,100355,50055,10091,20052,50052,000168,900291,20032,10056,500
 August 1,190,600393,90070,00087,40055,80046,800168,000282,50029,10057,200
 September 988,700315,60046,70085,40040,10037,900145,500250,90025,60040,900
 October 956,800336,40046,40076,60031,00039,900162,000208,80017,10038,600
 November 688,600277,60031,70045,50021,70024,500116,600131,10012,10027,900
 December 779,200314,30036,60047,50026,10034,900130,900134,60017,60036,600
 Total 10,807,5003,787,700576,800812,400392,300443,1001,685,5002,412,500224,700472,500
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 5 (XLS 38KB)
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Table 6 Overseas Trips in each calendar quarter, 2008 - 2019
       Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
YearPeriod All Trips Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great BritainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
2008Quarter 1 3,304,700 1,762,500 1,542,200 849,500480,200155,90056,700
 Quarter 2 4,210,200 2,050,800 2,159,400 1,023,200729,000312,10095,200
 Quarter 3 4,900,700 2,428,300 2,472,400 1,148,900839,900357,200126,400
 Quarter 4 3,300,800 1,635,800 1,665,000 850,900561,200179,40073,500
 Total 15,716,400 7,877,400 7,839,000 3,872,4002,610,3001,004,600351,700
             
2009Quarter 1 2,941,900 1,539,800 1,402,200 722,400488,700142,20048,800
 Quarter 2 3,801,500 1,899,600 1,901,900 858,500658,200305,00080,300
 Quarter 3 4,314,400 2,137,100 2,177,300 956,100757,600356,400107,300
 Quarter 4 2,918,900 1,472,900 1,446,100 720,100477,800176,80071,500
 Total 13,976,900 7,049,300 6,927,500 3,257,0002,382,300980,400307,900
             
2010Quarter 1 2,523,900 1,439,200 1,084,800 526,600366,500137,30054,200
 Quarter 2 3,214,500 1,673,100 1,541,400 701,700500,500264,00075,200
 Quarter 3 4,133,800 2,137,200 1,996,600 852,600700,900332,800110,200
 Quarter 4 2,736,800 1,322,500 1,414,300 657,600477,300201,40078,100
 Total 12,609,100 6,572,000 6,037,100 2,738,5002,045,200935,600317,800
             
2011Quarter 1 2,445,200 1,266,400 1,178,800 550,700407,800154,70065,600
 Quarter 2 3,558,000 1,753,000 1,805,000 760,700647,500303,80092,900
 Quarter 3 4,114,100 1,962,400 2,151,700 911,600763,200352,400124,600
 Quarter 4 2,680,700 1,311,000 1,369,700 655,200464,700176,20073,600
 Total 12,798,000 6,292,800 6,505,200 2,878,1002,283,200987,100356,700
             
2012Quarter 1 2,399,900 1,234,800 1,165,100 562,400392,800144,70065,200
 Quarter 2 3,544,700 1,727,500 1,817,300 735,200672,400305,700104,000
 Quarter 3 4,099,900 2,003,200 2,096,700 830,200776,800365,200124,500
 Quarter 4 2,798,400 1,360,400 1,438,000 646,400505,400201,30085,000
 Total 12,842,900 6,325,800 6,517,200 2,774,2002,347,4001,016,900378,600
             
2013Quarter 1 2,460,600 1,208,900 1,251,700 570,200444,000168,80068,700
 Quarter 2 3,645,400 1,752,400 1,893,000 726,900705,200350,800110,100
 Quarter 3 4,293,500 2,032,600 2,261,000 904,700786,200415,000155,000
Quarter 42,909,400 1,329,300 1,580,100 727,100527,600223,500102,000
 Total 13,309,000 6,323,100 6,985,900 2,928,9002,463,0001,158,100435,900
             
2014Quarter 1 2,496,100 1,153,500 1,342,500 635,500447,400178,90080,700
 Quarter 23,917,400 1,790,800 2,126,600 837,700770,600395,600122,600
Quarter 3 4,552,000 2,111,700 2,440,400 922,600861,100490,000166,700
Quarter 4 3,153,400 1,458,500 1,694,900 768,100559,000264,100103,700
 Total 14,118,900 6,514,500 7,604,400 3,163,9002,638,1001,328,600473,800
             
2015Quarter 12,837,400 1,306,100 1,531,300 725,800526,000191,20088,300
Quarter 24,272,500 1,927,500 2,344,900 886,200850,900468,100139,700
Quarter 34,957,400 2,186,500 2,770,900 1,050,400987,000550,100183,400
Quarter 43,540,800 1,544,800 1,995,900 884,500679,400304,800127,200
 Total 15,608,000 6,965,000 8,643,000 3,546,9003,043,3001,514,200538,600
             
2016Quarter 13,262,400 1,477,700 1,784,700 851,400599,600238,20095,500
Quarter 24,574,200 1,975,300 2,598,900 1,013,600928,500520,100136,700
Quarter 35,314,400 2,252,900 3,061,500 1,148,5001,085,300637,500190,200
Quarter 43,837,900 1,698,700 2,139,200 910,600688,700412,100127,800
 Total 16,989,000 7,404,500 9,584,400 3,924,1003,302,1001,808,000550,200
             
2017Quarter 13,364,800 1,568,700 1,796,100 796,100595,900293,400110,800
Quarter 24,888,400 2,119,000 2,769,400 949,2001,022,000628,900169,300
Quarter 35,590,600 2,495,000 3,095,600 1,065,2001,086,900732,600210,900
Quarter 44,027,200 1,756,300 2,270,900 918,400777,600446,600128,300
 Total 17,871,100 7,939,000 9,932,100 3,728,9003,482,4002,101,500619,300
             
2018Quarter 1 3,519,800 1,599,100 1,920,700 798,300678,300331,600112,500
 Quarter 2 5,200,000 2,248,100 2,951,900 987,9001,104,500689,200170,400
 Quarter 3 5,901,800 2,571,000 3,330,900 1,055,9001,193,400847,500234,100
 Quarter 4 4,270,800 1,858,000 2,412,800 917,000836,500515,500143,800
 Total 18,892,500 8,276,200 10,616,300 3,759,0003,812,7002,383,800660,700
             
2019Quarter 1 3,753,900 1,727,200 2,026,700 809,100730,000367,200120,300
 Quarter 2 5,425,400 2,403,600 3,021,800 985,2001,104,800746,200185,600
 Quarter 3 6,108,400 2,773,900 3,334,400 1,065,0001,203,400824,600241,400
 Quarter 4 4,334,400 1,909,700 2,424,600 928,300871,900474,500149,900
 Total 19,622,000 8,814,400 10,807,500 3,787,7003,910,2002,412,500697,200
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 6 (XLS 41KB)
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Table 7 Overseas Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence by calendar quarter, 2016 - 2019
YearPeriod Trips to IrelandGreat Britain Belgium, Netherlands and LuxembourgFranceGermanyItalySpainNorway, Sweden, Finland and DenmarkOther EuropeUSA and CanadaAustralia, New Zealand and Other OceaniaOther Areas
2016Quarter 1 1,784,700851,40079,80097,500104,20061,60071,30044,600140,500238,20031,40064,100
 Quarter 2 2,598,9001,013,600100,800164,700192,30096,000100,10062,000212,600520,10051,10085,500
 Quarter 3 3,061,5001,148,500120,600171,100223,000129,300136,90065,700238,700637,50073,200117,000
 Quarter 4 2,139,200910,60083,10098,100132,70057,60086,70050,800179,700412,10048,70079,100
 Total 9,584,4003,924,100384,400531,400652,200344,400394,900223,100771,5001,808,000204,500345,700
               
2017Quarter 1 1,796,100796,10078,900107,10099,40060,10074,50037,600138,300293,40035,00075,800
 Quarter 2 2,769,400949,200108,900169,200209,70097,400134,70075,800226,400628,90054,300115,000
 Quarter 3 3,095,6001,065,200110,800163,700224,800130,100146,70075,500235,300732,60076,200134,800
 Quarter 4 2,270,900918,40093,300109,300147,50075,70087,30064,200200,200446,60043,00085,200
 Total 9,932,1003,728,900391,900549,300681,400363,300443,200253,100800,2002,101,500208,500410,800
               
2018Quarter 1 1,920,700798,30078,00097,500129,80071,20078,40047,700175,700331,60034,90077,500
 Quarter 2 2,951,900987,900115,300177,900244,800108,400127,00077,300253,800689,20058,500111,900
 Quarter 3 3,330,9001,055,900114,700175,100270,900142,100148,50077,300265,000847,50084,900149,200
 Quarter 4 2,412,800917,00098,300114,400172,40087,40089,20056,900218,000515,50050,10093,700
 Total 10,616,3003,759,000406,200564,800817,800409,100443,100259,200912,5002,383,800228,500432,300
               
2019Quarter 1 2,026,700809,10080,900117,300132,70066,90087,10047,000198,100367,20032,60087,800
 Quarter 2 3,021,800985,200112,500173,000246,10098,100120,00069,200285,900746,20058,500127,100
 Quarter 3 3,334,4001,065,000110,100171,700264,000148,400136,80074,100298,200824,60086,800154,600
 Quarter 4 2,424,600928,30095,700114,700169,60078,90099,30062,500251,300474,50046,800103,100
 Total 10,807,5003,787,700399,300576,800812,400392,300443,100252,7001,033,6002,412,500224,700472,500
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 7 (XLS 34KB)
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Table 8 Overseas Trips by month - Seasonally Adjusted, 2016 - 2019
       Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence
YearPeriod All Trips Irish Residents' Trips Overseas Trips to Ireland Great BritainOther EuropeUSA and CanadaOther Areas
2016January 1,379,000 622,600 768,100 315,500262,400136,20042,600
 February 1,439,300 593,500 863,500 322,100296,700125,30040,600
 March 1,385,700 623,900 798,000 315,900274,800142,20050,800
 April 1,383,800 574,600 786,700 339,400265,400133,80045,300
 May 1,393,700 621,600 762,700 313,100267,100145,80042,500
 June 1,401,100 618,500 783,100 331,800269,900145,20044,700
 July 1,409,400 602,300 805,200 322,500286,500152,50046,400
 August 1,414,600 589,800 813,400 352,100286,500148,80044,700
 September 1,432,700 622,400 805,700 329,900279,200149,70046,500
 October 1,451,600 639,800 801,400 318,500269,500177,90048,000
 November 1,456,600 660,000 801,200 315,100267,800169,70050,300
 December 1,465,300 668,900 816,300 318,400274,200171,40048,800
 Total 17,012,900 7,438,000 9,605,200 3,894,3003,300,1001,798,400551,200
             
2017January 1,474,300 666,100 824,000 318,700274,600176,50051,800
 February 1,458,300 677,000 784,500 287,900269,500180,60059,400
 March 1,470,500 657,500 816,900 322,000276,600154,00052,800
 April 1,464,900 653,000 816,100 304,000291,200177,60049,300
 May 1,444,600 611,600 819,400 307,500286,800171,90056,500
 June 1,484,800 640,500 844,700 306,800305,800171,60052,300
 July 1,489,200 685,800 796,800 313,500282,500159,60049,000
 August 1,496,700 671,800 816,600 305,000284,200179,50051,100
 September 1,509,600 652,100 855,700 320,100295,400184,00052,400
 October 1,506,900 662,400 836,900 311,300302,500178,40048,300
 November 1,535,900 653,200 890,900 331,700324,700200,70046,900
 December 1,533,600 719,100 837,200 310,400283,400184,60052,700
 Total 17,869,500 7,950,200 9,939,800 3,738,9003,477,1002,118,900622,500
             
2018January 1,548,100 713,900 848,400 305,000315,200181,20051,400
 February 1,523,800 652,200 880,100 319,200316,800188,50053,700
 March 1,429,400 601,400 862,200 309,800301,700191,00052,900
 April 1,605,100 697,700 876,800 310,900315,900201,80059,500
 May 1,585,300 681,200 892,800 332,600324,300189,30053,300
 June 1,582,300 706,300 871,900 313,900314,100184,40053,400
 July 1,582,200 675,700 898,200 315,100320,000200,40056,700
 August 1,576,200 680,600 886,900 312,100315,900201,10056,400
 September 1,597,700 721,400 875,800 300,700316,100203,90055,200
 October 1,606,600 708,400 894,500 309,900315,700213,90056,500
 November 1,619,200 708,200 917,400 324,400332,900212,30056,000
December1,615,500 736,400 904,800 315,100327,500215,70055,500
 Total 18,871,500 8,283,500 10,609,900 3,768,8003,815,9002,383,400660,400
             
2019January 1,620,700 698,800 939,000 331,500348,500202,60056,200
 February 1,633,300 734,700 900,600 314,000326,100203,60064,700
 March 1,633,300 746,100 892,400 299,700325,800211,60055,400
 April 1,628,800 720,000 911,000 322,200324,500207,90056,900
 May 1,632,100 734,100 889,800 311,900310,300210,10057,100
 June 1,628,300 720,500 901,600 319,100320,000202,30058,800
 July 1,632,100 727,500 894,900 316,700318,900196,20058,700
 August 1,645,300 758,200 883,000 307,500319,000198,30058,400
 September 1,645,500 748,300 896,100 316,000328,000195,50056,100
 October 1,644,100 730,000 914,800 325,000340,100194,50059,000
 November 1,612,300 759,400 853,000 304,000309,900192,20058,300
 December 1,651,700 726,000 951,300 325,100358,500202,80058,800
 Total 19,607,500 8,803,500 10,827,400 3,792,8003,929,7002,417,500698,300
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 8 (XLS 41KB)
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Table 9 Overseas Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence for the years, 2010 - 2019
Area of Residence12010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Great Britain2,738,5002,878,1002,774,2002,928,9003,163,9003,546,9003,924,1003,728,9003,759,0003,787,700
France342,500401,500396,300433,700455,700504,600531,400549,300564,800576,800
Germany377,300422,900448,200482,900557,200629,300652,200681,400817,800812,400
Italy221,800220,100251,700234,000257,800321,400344,400363,300409,100392,300
Spain221,300244,900253,100263,000290,900343,200394,900443,200443,100443,100
Belgium67,00087,10086,700100,400106,000129,400135,700133,500139,900131,700
Netherlands122,700138,500143,000155,000158,400183,600235,600246,400247,800248,300
Norway46,50054,20051,20052,70053,60062,10053,30058,30057,50052,300
Sweden54,50060,00074,60075,90064,40067,20063,50081,00082,90083,600
Denmark44,40048,20044,20053,20059,30070,20068,30075,80074,60077,200
Austria42,70046,20049,00054,00059,20057,00062,00065,00075,10082,900
Poland171,100170,600168,900159,700149,500172,200189,200181,400205,400230,900
Switzerland55,40071,40080,90076,70088,900111,400114,600111,900121,700130,300
Other Europe2278,100317,500299,600321,900337,400391,600456,800492,000573,000648,300
USA 848,300888,600904,2001,035,5001,169,1001,323,4001,586,4001,852,9002,114,9002,128,800
Canada87,20098,500112,700122,500159,500190,700221,600248,600268,900283,700
Australia, New Zealand and Other Oceania2135,300141,100155,700187,700190,000207,600204,500208,500228,500224,700
Africa236,30038,60041,10039,00044,70043,60049,90055,30058,10063,200
Central, South and Other Americas235,20049,50048,80055,20064,50067,50064,90079,20093,500103,200
Asia2111,000127,500133,000154,000174,700220,000230,900276,300280,600306,100
           
Total Overseas Trips to Ireland6,037,1006,505,2006,517,2006,985,9007,604,4008,643,0009,584,4009,932,10010,616,30010,807,500
   of which : Transfers3162,100165,000201,200274,100374,600474,400583,400784,700925,000969,500
1Country estimates are subject to high levels of sample variation and therefore should be interpreted with caution. See Background Notes.
2See Background Notes for countries included.
3Source: Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) - transfer trips through Dublin Airport.
Open in Excel: Overseas Travel December 2019 Table 9 (XLS 34KB)
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Background Notes

Periodicity

Monthly.

The CSO has re-introduced a monthly series for the main categories from the January 2018 release onwards, replacing the previous three month rolling series. Monthly data from January 2016 is provided.

Scope

Overseas Travel.

Coverage

This release covers Overseas Travel into and out of the Republic of Ireland, however travel by residents of Northern Ireland into or out of the Republic of Ireland or domestic travel within the Republic of Ireland is excluded.

Data Collection

Data from the Country of Residence Survey (CRS) is used in this release.  This survey is conducted at Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports and Rosslare, Ringaskiddy and Dublin seaports.  Residency data is collected from passengers by a Central Statistics Office (CSO) interviewer.  Surveys are also conducted on behalf of the CSO at Holyhead Port by the UK's Office of National Statistics.

Sample Design

A sample of flights and sailings is selected to facilitate proper representation of airport/seaport pairings, day, night, week day and weekend flights/sailings.

On the selected flights/sailings for the CRS, a 1 in 5 (20%) systematic sample of passengers is selected and their country of residence is recorded.

Sample results are grossed to total passenger numbers travelling for each airport or seaport pairing, as provided by the airports and ferry companies.

Where there is no survey coverage in a period for an airport/seaport pairing, results are imputed using the 'nearest neighbour' imputation methodology.

Sample Size

The sample size for the Overseas Travel release for December 2019 was just below 28,400 passengers.

Seasonal Adjustment

Seasonally adjusted monthly data is available in Table 8.  Trip numbers are subject to a high degree of seasonality.  These seasonal fluctuations do not affect annual comparisons but they do affect monthly or quarterly comparisons.  Typically trips are at their highest during the summer months, although there are also clear peaks around Christmas and Easter.  To facilitate interpretation of underlying trends, trip numbers are adjusted to remove these seasonal trends.  Seasonal adjustment is conducted using the direct seasonal adjustment approach.  Under this approach each individual series is independently adjusted each month, e.g. aggregate series are adjusted without reference to the component series.  Seasonal adjustment models are developed for each series based on unadjusted data from January 2010 to the current period.  These models are then applied to the entire series.  Seasonal factors are updated each month. 

The adjustments are completed by applying the X-12-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, to the unadjusted data.  This methodology estimates seasonal factors while also taking into consideration factors that impact on the quality of the seasonal adjustment such as:

  • Calendar effects, e.g. the timing of Easter (see definition (5)).
  • Outliers, temporary changes and level shifts in the series.

Rounding

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

Reliability of Results 

Estimation of survey results using the above sampling design introduces a statistical variability which would not be present if all passengers from every flight/sailing had been sampled.  This means that the survey results are best estimates based on the information collected for the sample.

Airport Pairings

The CSO "Airport Pairings" database contains information on every direct flight in and out of the nine Irish airports on a monthly basis.  The most recent monthly passenger figures will be added to the database two months after the end of the reference month.  For details please go to https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CTM01&PLanguage=0

Definitions

(1) Trips

The data presented in this report is in terms of trip numbers.  A trip is defined as a journey (usually including the return) from one place to another.

(2) Visitor

The definition of Visitor used in these surveys is agreed with Eurostat, the European Statistical Office.  A Visitor is defined as 'any person travelling to a place other than that of his/her usual environment for less than twelve months and whose main purpose is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited'.  However, as the CRS does not establish the reason for an individual's trip or length of stay, those travelling for remuneration or for more than one year to a country cannot be excluded.  Therefore, trips may include those travelling for paid work.  Commercial Drivers travelling on sea routes are excluded.

(3) Country of Residence

Country of Residence is defined as the country in which the person has resided during the past year.

(4) Transit/Transfer Passengers

Transit passengers are defined as those who make a stop at an airport without any particular purpose other than being en route to another destination.  These passengers generally do not disembark from their aircraft and are not covered by the Country of Residence Survey.

Transfer passengers or 'connecting passengers' are also defined as those who make a stop at an airport without any particular purpose other than being en route to another destination.  However, unlike transits, transfer passengers disembark the aircraft and pass through the airport en route to their connecting flight.  The two flights must be booked on the same ticket for it to be considered a transfer.  Such passengers are included in the estimates of trips for Overseas Travel release and are treated in the same manner as same-day visits.  This is in line with UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) International Recommendations on Tourism Statistics.  Transfers are surveyed for the Country of Residence Survey.

Overseas Trips to Ireland and Transfer Trips
YearOverseas trips to Ireland 1Number of transfer trips through Dublin Airport 2
2010  6,037,100  162,100
2011  6,505,200  165,000
2012  6,517,200  201,200
2013  6,985,900  274,100
2014  7,604,400  374,600
2015  8,643,000  474,400
2016  9,584,400  583,400
2017   9,932,100   784,700
2018 10,616,300  925,000
2019  10,807,500    969,500 
1 Source: Overseas Travel Release, CSO
2 Source: Dublin Airport Authority (DAA)

A transfer trip is a completed journey – for example a passenger who travels from London Gatwick to Dublin Airport and then on to New York (on the one ticket) is counted as two transfer passengers and one transfer trip.

In 2019, the number of overseas trips to Ireland increased by 1.8% when compared with 2018. Excluding transfer trips, the annual increase in overseas trips to Ireland would have been 1.5%. 

In 2018, the number of overseas trips to Ireland increased by 6.9% when compared with 2017. Excluding transfer trips, the annual increase in overseas trips to Ireland would have been 5.9%.

(5) Timing of Easter

Easter falls each year on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th, inclusively.  In 2019 Easter Sunday fell on April 21st, while in 2018 it fell on April 1st.  Trip numbers each year are greatly influenced by when Easter falls.

Dates for Easter Sunday

2019 – 21st April

2018 – 1st April

2017 – 16th April

2016 – 27th March

2015 – 5th April

2014 – 20th April

2013 – 31st March

2012 - 8th April

Other Europe

Tables 1-4, 6 and 8

Includes the following countries:

  
Aland Islands Greece Norway
Albania Guernsey Poland
Andorra Hungary Portugal
Austria Iceland Romania
Belarus Isle of Man Russian Federation
Belgium Italy San Marino
Bosnia and Herzegovina Jersey Serbia
Bulgaria Kosovo Slovakia
Croatia Latvia Slovenia
Cyprus Liechtenstein Spain
Czech Republic Lithuania Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Denmark Luxembourg Sweden
Estonia North Macedonia, Republic of Switzerland
Faroe Islands Malta Turkey
Finland Moldova, Republic of Ukraine
France Monaco  Vatican City
Germany Montenegro  
Gibraltar Netherlands  

 

Other Areas

Tables 1-4, 6 and 8

Includes the following countries:

Africa (see below for breakdown of countries)
Australia, New Zealand and Other Oceania  (see below for breakdown of countries)
Central, South and Other Americas  (see below for breakdown of countries)
Asia  (see below for breakdown of countries)

 

Other Europe

Table 5

Includes the following countries:

  
Aland Islands Greece Netherlands
Albania Guernsey Norway
Andorra Hungary Poland
Austria Iceland Portugal
Belarus Isle of Man Romania
Belgium Jersey Russian Federation
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo San Marino
Bulgaria Latvia Serbia
Croatia Liechtenstein Slovakia
Cyprus Lithuania Slovenia 
Czech Republic Luxembourg Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Denmark North Macedonia, Republic of Sweden
Estonia Malta Switzerland
Faroe Islands Moldova, Republic of Turkey
Finland Monaco Ukraine
Gibraltar Montenegro Vatican City

 

Other Europe

Table 7

Includes the following countries:

  
Aland Islands Guernsey Poland
Albania Hungary Portugal
Andorra Iceland Romania
Austria Isle of Man Russian Federation
Belarus Jersey San Marino
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo Serbia
Bulgaria Latvia Slovakia
Croatia Liechtenstein Slovenia
Cyprus Lithuania Svalbard and Jan Mayen 
Czech Republic North Macedonia, Republic of Switzerland
Estonia Malta Turkey
Faroe Islands Moldova, Republic of Ukraine
Gibraltar Monaco Vatican City
Greece Montenegro  

 

Other Europe

Table 9

Includes the following countries:

  
Aland Islands Guernsey Montenegro
Albania Hungary Portugal
Andorra Iceland Romania
Belarus Isle of Man Russian Federation
Bosnia and Herzegovina Jersey San Marino
Bulgaria Kosovo Serbia
Croatia Latvia Slovakia
Cyprus Liechtenstein Slovenia
Czech Republic Lithuania Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Estonia Luxembourg Turkey
Faroe Islands North Macedonia, Republic of Ukraine
Finland Malta Vatican City
Gibraltar Moldova, Republic of  
Greece Monaco  

 

Australia, New Zealand and Other Oceania

Tables 5, 7 and 9

Includes the following countries:

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

 

Other Areas

Tables 5 and 7

Includes the following group of countries:

Central, South and Other Americas (See below for country breakdowns)

Africa (See below for country breakdowns)

Asia (See below for country breakdowns)

 

Central, South and Other Americas

Table 9

Includes the following countries:

  
Anguilla Dominican Republic Paraguay
Antigua and Barbuda Ecuador Peru
Argentina El Salvador Puerto Rico
Aruba Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Saint Kitts and Nevis
Bahamas French Guiana Saint Lucia
Barbados Greenland Saint Martin
Belize Grenada Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Bermuda Guadeloupe Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bolivia Guatemala Saint-Barthelemy
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Guyana Sint Maarten
Brazil Haiti Suriname
Cayman Islands Honduras Trinidad and Tobago
Chile Jamaica Turks and Caicos Islands
Colombia Martinique Uruguay
Costa Rica Mexico Venezuela
Cuba Montserrat Virgin Islands, British
Curacao Nicaragua Virgin Islands, US
Dominica Panama  

 

Africa

Table 9

Includes the following countries:

  
Algeria Gambia Rwanda
Angola Ghana Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
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  

 

Asia

Table 9

Includes the following countries:

  
Afghanistan Japan Palestine, State of
Armenia Jordan Philippines
Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Qatar
Bahrain Korea, Republic of Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh Korea, Democratic People's 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  

 

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