Ireland’s tourism sector is facing a challenging period, with new data from the Central Statistics Office showing a clear softening in overseas visitor numbers, spending and length of stay so far this year. According to the CSO, the number of foreign tourists visiting Ireland between January and September fell by 7.5% compared with the same period in 2024, declining from 5.245 million to 4.851 million visitors.
More concerning for the wider economy is the impact on spending. Tourist expenditure fell by 13% year-on-year to €5.7 billion, down from €6.6 billion in the same period last year. Spending on accommodation saw one of the sharpest declines, dropping by 15% from €2 billion to €1.7 billion. While the number of tourists using hotels has remained broadly unchanged at around 275,000, visitors are clearly spending less and staying for shorter periods.
Figures highlighted by RTÉ show that while arrivals in September were up 5% compared with September last year, the average length of stay fell to 7.1 nights, down from 7.8 nights in September 2024 and eight nights in September 2023. This reduction in stay duration is translating directly into lower in-country spend, with visitors spending just over €570 million on trips last month (excluding fares), a fall of 16% compared with September 2024.
Industry representatives argue that headline CSO figures may overstate the scale of the slowdown. Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, said the lived experience of major tourism attractions and large hotel groups suggests activity is “flat or down marginally” rather than in sharp decline. Nonetheless, even a modest contraction raises concerns for a sector that supports tens of thousands of jobs across the country, particularly in regional and rural areas.
A key factor increasingly cited by industry observers is cost. A recent European cost-of-living and tourism price comparison report placed Ireland as the second most expensive destination in Europe, behind only Denmark. High accommodation prices, food and beverage costs, transport charges and general living expenses are all feeding into perceptions that Ireland offers poorer value for money compared with competitor destinations.
Taken together, the data points to a tourism model under pressure: visitor numbers stabilising at best, spending per head falling, and length of stay shortening. While Ireland’s brand, culture and natural attractions remain strong, restoring competitiveness on cost will be critical if the sector is to return to sustainable growth in the years ahead.
