Irish Trips Overseas Up In August

Overseas Trips by Irish Residents increased by 3.7% to 845,600 in August 2008 compared to 815,700 in August 2007. This brings to 5,515,300 the number of overseas trips so far in 2008, an increase of 5.1% over the same period in 2007.

However, the rate of growth has declined from the 12.2% growth rate between the same period in 2006 and 2007.

The number of trips to Ireland fell by just under 2% to 946,300 in August 2008 compared to the same month in 2007.

Trips to Ireland by residents of Great Britain grew by 3.5% to 488,400 and from other areas grew by 13.1% to 43,100.

Trips by residents of North America and other European countries fell by 10.7% to 118,200 and by 7.5% to 296,600 respectfully, accounting for the overall decrease in trips to Ireland.

A total of 5,483,300 trips have been taken to Ireland so far in 2008 which was marginally less than the same period in 2007. This contrasts with a growth of just over 4% in 2007 from 2006.

The number of trips from other European countries maintained some growth at over 1%, however this was substantially lower than the 14.3% growth in the same period between 2007 and 2006.

The number of trips by residents of Great Britain and North America showed a decrease in this period compared to 2007.