TRAVEL FIGURES:THE NUMBER OF overseas trips made by Irish people increased by 11 per cent in January, from 493,900 to 548,400, compared with the same period last year, according to new figures. The data, from the Central Statistics Office, also shows that the number of visitors to Ireland in January dropped by 4,000, to 437,000.
Trips by British visitors fell by about 2 per cent, to 224,000, but they increased slightly from other European countries, to 147,600.
The numbers of US visitors remained virtually unchanged.
UK tourists accounted for 51 per cent of all arrivals, followed by the US, at 9 per cent, and Poland, at 6 per cent.
Meanwhile the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation has said that peace and stability in Northern Ireland have given a major boost to the island's image as a top tourist destination.
The confederation's chairman, Richard Bourke, said the country had never appeared more attractive and predicted that the industry is strong enough to weather current economic woes.
His comments comes as travel operators expressed concern about the growing strength of the euro against the dollar and the knock-on effects for American visitors.
Bourke told the confederation's agm, in Dublin: "The product in Ireland has never been in better shape, and the stability that has emerged in Northern Ireland has given a major boost to the image of the whole island. As an island access is key, and in this regard we have never been so well served by air and by surface."
He told delegates that although the industry is facing its toughest period since 2001, it is in a strong position to survive the current economic difficulties.
Claiming periods of financial uncertainty come and go, he predicted that the dollar will recover.
"The first half of the current year may prove to be difficult, but there is reason to be confident that we may see some recovery as the year progresses," he said.
"The US central bank has aggressively responded to the threat of recession with very significant interest-rate cuts and a major economic-stimulus package.
"This should ensure that the economic slowdown will be arrested and reversed fairly quickly."