The United States recorded 29,285 visits from Ireland in January 2026, down 5.8pc from January 2025 but up 6.1pc on pre-pandemic levels.
Overall inbound international visitor numbers fell 4.8pc year-on-year in January 2026. Air passenger demand for US carriers dipped 0.7pc with a load factor of 78.7pc.
Factors included a strong US dollar, visa processing delays, perceived restrictive policies, and competition from regions such as Africa and Latin America. The US National Travel and Tourism Office forecast 85m international arrivals for full-year 2026 despite the early decline.
