Tourism to Ireland from the USA was up in 2024 but Germany was down. According to Siobhan McManamy of Tourism Ireland, there were four key trends in Irish tourism in 2023. Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Self Catering Federation at Clayton Liffey Valley, she said:
- USA as the main driver of growth: The US market showed significant growth in Irish tourism during the year, outperforming other markets. The increased number of tourists from the US has positively impacted the industry.
- Germany’s underperformance: On the other hand, Germany experienced a decline of about 15/16% in tourism. Efforts are being made to focus on access growth and development, particularly through regional routes, to encourage more Germans to visit Ireland.
- Resilience of the Dutch market: Despite the challenges faced by other markets, the Dutch market remained resilient in 2023, indicating consistent interest in visiting Ireland.
- Ferry traffic benefiting rural tourism: The growth in ferry traffic played a significant role in benefiting rural tourism. Visitors who bring their cars and stay for extended periods contribute to the development of rural areas.
Ms McManamy also mentioned that visitors are less concerned about prices than perceived at home. Ireland is seen as a destination offering value, and while hotel prices in Dublin may experience occasional spikes, this is common in capital cities worldwide.
“You get these blips of hotel prices in Dublin but every capital city has that kind of supply and demand so it’s not unusual for people overseas for encounter this when they travel.”
Siobhan McManamy and Eoghan Corry at the 2023 ISCF conference
