Ireland inbound visitor numbers in February were 404,700, up 33pc on February 2025 and down 32.5pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual was 6,595,800, up 7pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
The month saw growth of 20.3pc from North America and big increases in some of the European markets, Germany up 53.4pc, France up 46pc, and Spain and Portugal up 37.1pc. Britain was also up by 16.1pc. Overall figures were down 7pc on February 2024.
Foreign visitors who departed Ireland in February 2026 stayed a total of 2.4mnights in the country, up 31pc on February 2025 and down 12pc on February 2024.
Britain accounted for the largest share (43pc), compared with Continental Europe (40pc), North America (12pc), and the Rest of the World (4pc).
Of the inbound visitors, 36pc indicated that the main purpose of their trip was for Visiting Friends & Relatives, 35pc said it was for Holidays, Leisure & Recreation, and 18pc of trips were for Business reasons.
The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 5.8 nights, down from 5.9 nights in February 2025.
Expenditure by foreign visitors in February 2026 was estimated at €250m, up 28pc compared with February 2025 (€196m), and down 12pc compared with February 2024 (€284m).
Ireland outbound was 861,200 in February, down 3.9pc on February 2025 and up 54.9pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual was 14,268,800, up 14.2pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
Market by market
- Australia and New Zealand: 3,000, up 7.1pc on February 2025 and down 63.9pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 125,500 down 3.3pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Belgium, Luxemburg and Netherlands: 17,100, up 6.9pc on February 2025. Rolling annual: 257,700, down 0.3pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Britain: 175,100, up 16.4pc on February 2025 and down 16.2pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 2,471,100, up 16.4pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Canada: 5,900, up 34.1pc on February 2025 and down 41.1pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 220,600, up 37.3pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden: 11,400, up 123.5pc on February 2025. Rolling annual: 143,600, down 1.6pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Europe: 162,900, up 55.1pc on February 2025 and down 22pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 2,051,200, down 5.6pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- France: 21,900, up 46pc on February 2025 and down 31.6pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 364,700 down 1pc on the twelve months to February 2025
- Germany: 27,300, up 53.4pc on February 2025 and down 27pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 450.,700, up 3pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Italy: 20,200, up 30.3pc on February 2025 and up 22.7pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 231.800 up 3.5c on the twelve months to February 2025.
- North America: 50,300, up 20.3pc on February 2025 and down 42.1pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 11,574.500, up 18pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- Spain and Portugal: 28,800, up 80pc on February 2025 and up 37.1pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 310,800 down 4pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
- USA: 44,400, up 42.3pc on February 2025 and down 42.1pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual: 1,353.500, up 19.3pc on the twelve months to February 2025.
Destination guides to Ireland’s counties
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
