IRELAND HAD MORE foreign residents visit in August than last year, but they spent less than tourists who visited the same month last year.
The inbound tourism statistical release for August 2025 by the Central Statistics Office showed there were a total of 772,800 foreign visitors who departed Ireland on overseas routes last month. This marks an increase of 1% compared to last August, and 5% compared to August 2023.
Foreign resident overnight visitors spent just under 6.7m nights in Ireland in August – that’s roughly equivalent to 18,356 years. This showed no change compared to last year but was down 9% compared with August 2023.
Statistician Edward Duffy noted that the greatest number of visitors came from Great Britain – 36% – followed by continental Europe on 31%, and North America on 26%. Six percent came from the rest of the world.
There was a steep incline in the number of visitors from North America: 21% compared the last year. Visitors from Great Britain were up 3%, and visitors from continental Europe declines by 12%. Visitors from elsewhere rose by 1%.
The most frequent reason for the visitors’ trips was for holiday or leisure (48%), while almost one in three trips (31%) were to visit friends or relatives.
Spending
Excluding fares, visitors spent €744m in Ireland in August. Including fares, this expenditure topped €1 billion.
Last year, spending during the month of August by foreign resident overnight visitors amounted to €820m.
Visitors from North America spent the largest amount, not including their fares. Spending for this cohort accounted for €271m of the total €744m, and represented 36% of the total expenditure.
Continental Europe visitors spent €251m (24%), while visitors from Great Britain spent €155m (21%). Outside of these regions, visitors spent €68m, or 9%.
This marked a fall of 9% compared to last year, despite the marginal increase in visitors, and the increase in visitors from North America, who statistically are the greatest spenders even when fares are not accounted for.
So, what were they spending on? And why is spending down?
Compared to last year, the length of visitors’ stays was slightly down. The average length went from 8.7 nights to 8.6 nights. The average cost of a visitor’s trip excluding fares was €962; in August 2024 it was €1,074.
The CSO provides a broad breakdown of visitors’ expenses: the €962 breaks down as €64 on prepayments, €391 on accommodation, and €507 on day-to-day expenses.
Last year, the comparable mean expenditure was €70 on prepayments, €437 on accommodation, and €566 on day-to-day expenses.
But is accommodation cheaper, or are visitors availing of different, cheaper types?
According to CSO figures, numbers of visitors staying in hotels dropped from 298,600 last year to 283,400 this year. Visitors staying in B&Bs or guest houses dropped from 62,900 to 52,300 between August 2024 and August 2025.
Those staying in a property either belonging to them, a friend, or a relative rose by just over 11,000 to 302,000. There was an increase of 25,000 visitors staying in rented or self-catering accommodation, and a minimal increase of a few thousand staying in other private tourism accommodation.
Nonetheless, August 2025 proved to be the most fruitful month for foreign visitor spending, almost €100m ahead of June.
