Spending on holidays by Irish residents fell by nearly 22 per cent in the first three months of the year.
Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show spending on international travel in the first quarter was down by 16.4 per cent to €1,037.3 million compared to quarter one last year.
Between January and March, the number of international trips was down by 7.5 per cent to 1,477,000 compared to the quarter one 2009.
Holiday trips were down 17.1 per cent to 771,000, and trips to visit friends and relatives were down slightly to 335,000.
The number of domestic trips taken by Irish residents during the quarter was up slightly on last year to 1,785,000. Holiday trips were down slightly at 726,000 and trips spent visiting friends and relatives in Ireland were up by nearly 5 per cent to 655,000.
Spending on domestic travel was down, however, by nearly 14 per cent to €220.5 million compared to the first quarter of last year. Holiday spending was down 15.4 per cent to €116.6 million, while spending on visiting friends and relatives was down by 23.4 per cent to €28.8 million.