Background Notes

Introduction

The data in this release gives details on the number of overseas trips to Ireland and Irish trips abroad. It provides data on country of residence, reason for journey, the average length of stay (nights) and expenditure of overseas travellers to Ireland and by Irish residents on trips abroad.

Ireland

For the purposes of this release, Ireland refers to the Republic of Ireland.

Data Sources

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) carries out two sample surveys of passengers at airports and seaports. These are the Country of Residence Survey (CRS) and the Passenger Card Inquiry (PCI). Data from these surveys are used in conjunction with passenger movement figures supplied by the air and sea transport companies to provide the estimates for overseas tourism and travel in this release. The Country of Residence Survey is a continuous sample survey of passengers (both inward and outward) which provides an estimated country of residence breakdown for passengers entering and leaving Ireland. This distribution is applied to the total passenger movement figures to provide estimates of Irish trips abroad and trips to Ireland by non-residents. Trips to Ireland are categorised into the areas of residence shown in this release.

The Passenger Card Inquiry is a continuous sample survey of incoming and departing passengers. This survey provides information on the reason for journey, length of stay, expenditure and fare costs, in addition to residency. The results are combined with the overall residency estimates from the Country of Residence Survey to provide the overseas tourism and travel details shown in this release.

Periodicity

Quarterly.

Scope 

The length of stay, residency, reason for journey, accommodation type (inbound travellers only) expenditure and fare costs for overseas travel into and out of Ireland.

Coverage 

This release provides information on overseas travel into and out of Ireland. The results for overseas travel to Ireland are based on the travel and expenditure patterns of departing non-resident passengers while results for overseas travel by Irish residents are based on departing and incoming Irish passengers.

Travel by residents of Northern Ireland into or out of Ireland or travel within Ireland by Irish residents is excluded from this publication.

Data Collection 

This release is based on the results of the Passenger Card Inquiry. The PCI surveys passengers at Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports and at Rosslare, Ringaskiddy and Dublin seaports.  Data on the country of residence, length of stay, reason for journey, expenditure and fare costs is collected from passengers who complete a questionnaire provided by one of a team of Central Statistics Office (CSO) interviewers.  This data is also collected by the Office of National Statistics staff on behalf of the CSO at Holyhead seaport covering passengers coming into the Republic of Ireland from Holyhead.

Sample Design

A sample of flights and sailings is selected to facilitate proper representation of airport/seaport pairings (e.g. Dublin-London Heathrow), day, night, weekday and weekend flights/sailings. The PCI card is then distributed by CSO interviewers to all passengers on these flights and sailings.

Where expenditure or fare data is missing, results are imputed using the ‘nearest neighbour’ imputation methodology. In other words, these expenditures and fares are estimated using the average fares of other observations in the sample with similar characteristics.  

The results are calculated by grossing the PCI returns for the reference quarter to the Country of Residence Survey (CRS) results for the same period. This ensures full consistency with the CRS results, as published in the monthly Overseas Travel release. The grossing of PCI trips is by area of residence and by mode of travel. For trips by Irish residents overseas, grossing is also by route of travel. Grossing by route of travel has been extended to foreign overseas visitors from the fourth quarter of 2019. Grossing by route of travel aligns the results with passenger totals provided by airport authorities and sea carriers. It should be noted that the grossing of the historical time series has not been revised at this time, but that a revision of the full series may take place pending a future review.

Sample Size 

The effective sample size for the PCI in Quarter 4 2019 was 29,611 passengers.

Definitions 

Trip

In this release, a trip is defined as a journey (usually including a return) from one place to another, for any purpose (i.e. both tourism and non-tourism). The number of trips is calculated as the sum of both outward journeys and inward journeys divided by two.

Same Day Traveller 

A traveller is classified as a same day traveller if his/her trip does not include an overnight stay.

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 therefore not covered by the Passenger Card Inquiry.

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 and expenditure for the Tourism and 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 Passenger Card Inquiry.

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.

Country of Residence 

Country of Residence is defined as the country in which the person has resided for 12 months prior to interview.

Total Expenditure  

Total expenditure refers to the amount paid for the acquisition or consumption of goods and services for one’s own use or for use by others, for and during trips. It includes expenditure by travellers themselves, as well as expenses that are paid for or reimbursed by others. For example, expenses paid by another person (e.g. gift) or expenses paid directly by the employer for employees on business travel are included.

Total expenditure does not include purchases of land, real estate or motor vehicles.

Overseas Tourism & Travel Earnings

Overseas tourism and travel earnings refers to the total expenditure by overseas travellers while in Ireland plus fares paid by them to Irish air and sea carriers.

Overseas Tourism & Travel Expenditure 

Overseas tourism and travel expenditure refers to the total expenditure of Irish residents on overseas trips (including all fares) less fares paid by them to Irish air and sea carriers.

Tourism & Travel Balance 

This refers to the difference between tourism and travel earnings from overseas trips to Ireland and tourism and travel expenditure on trips abroad by Irish residents.

Rounding  

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

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