The number of overseas visits to the State rose slightly during the second quarter of this year, while the number of Irish visits abroad remained static, according to statistics released today.
The Central Statistics Office figures found that during the April to June 2008 period, there were 2,159,000 overseas visits to Ireland, an increase of 1 per cent on the corresponding period in 2007.
Breaking down those visits by source, the CSO revealed trips by residents of Britain dropped by 4 per cent, while visits by residents of the United States and Canada showed a fall of 2 per cent. However, visits by from other European countries rose by 10 per cent to 729,000.
During the second quarter of 2008, the number of Irish visits abroad was almost unchanged at 2,051,000, compared to the same period in 2007.
Trips abroad on Transatlantic routes grew by just over 30 per cent to 115,000 over the same period, while Irish trips for holiday, leisure, or recreation comprised 74 per cent of all continental European trips taken in the April to June period this year.
In terms of earnings, those from visitors to Ireland accounted for €1,313m, while expenditure by Irish abroad amounted to €1,627m in the quarter, a net outflow of €315m.
