- September 2026: 16.2k.
- September 2025: 12.9k; y/y: +25.6pc.
- September 2019: 25.6k; vs 2019: −36.7pc.
- Jan–Sep 2026: 94.8k, down 3.5pc y/y.
- Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2019: −46.7pc.
Ireland inbound visitor numbers from Australia and New Zealand were 16.2k in September, up 25.6pc on September 2025 and down 37pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual was 121.5k down 4.9pc on the twelve months to September 2025..
The total for the first six months of 2026 was 50,400, up 2.4pc on the first six months of 2025 and 44.7pc behind pre-pandemic. The market was still 36.7pc below September 2019’s 25.6k, but the latest y/y gain was strong. September 2026 was slightly below September 2024’s 17.0k but above September 2023’s 17.9k? No — it was below both 2024 and 2023.
The YTD picture is softer. Jan–Sep 2026 reached 94.8k, down 3.5pc on Jan–Sep 2025. That means the September gain has not been enough to lift the full Jan–Sep period into positive territory. The YTD total is also 46.7pc below Jan–Sep 2019.
The Aus/NZ story is therefore a strong September within a weaker YTD trend. The market remains well below 2019 and is still slightly behind 2025 on a year-to-date basis.
Change in CSO methodology
There was a significant change CSO methodology in 2023 which presents difficulties in comparing pre-pandemic figures. It now relies on a single passenger survey with stricter sampling rules. The new survey is also conducted by an interviewer rather than filled out by the passengers themselves. The change had the effect of almost exactly reversing the ratio of inbound & outbound passengers through the airports and ports, 60/40 outbound instead of 60/40 inbound.
CSO tourism stats for Ireland
Overall – Australia/NZ – Benelux – Britain – Canada – Europe – France – Germany – Italy – North Anerica – Scandinavia – Spain/Portugal – USA – Outbound –
