The number of tourists coming to Ireland has plunged by 30% with industry chiefs saying we are headed towards a ‘crisis point’.
New figures released by the CSO showed 304,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland last month – a decrease of 30%, or 129,000 tourists – who spent €88million less compared with February 2024.
It continues an unwelcome trend also seen in January, which saw a huge reduction in the numbers coming to visit Ireland, but the decline has been ongoing since September.
Last year, just under 452,000 travellers came through our airports in January, while only 339,000 did so this year.
That represents a drop of 25%, some 113,000 fewer visitors, spending €83 million less than the year previous.
Last month, visitors spent €196million on their trips (excluding fares), down 31% compared with February 2024.
The largest contingent of visitors came from Britain (49%), and the second largest came from the United States (10%).
According to the CSO data, the most frequent reason for travelling to Ireland was to visit family or friends (37%).
Crown Alley, Temple Bar, in Dublin. GETTY IMAGES
Tourists are also spending less time in the country, staying a combined 1.8 million nights last month, a drop of 33% when compared with February 2024.
The figures are the latest blow in a bad week for Irish tourism and Ireland’s reputation as a safe country.
CSO stats earlier this week showed how a new crimewave has gripped the capital with violent offences, thefts and public-order incidents all soaring in the city centre last year.
Fears over safety in Dublin city have been growing, following several high-profile attacks on tourists and the riots that made global headlines in November 2023.
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Last month, three teenage boys were handed down prison sentences for a serious assault on American tourist Stephen Termini in Talbot Street, Dublin in July 2023.
Mr Termini suffered serious injuries to his brain. He underwent an operation to save the sight in his right eye and spent two weeks in intensive care in Beaumont Hospital.
CSO statistician Gregg Patrick said: ‘The results show that 304,300 foreign visitors departed Ireland on overseas routes in February 2025, a decrease of 30% compared with February 2024.
Stephen Termini photographed outside the Celt pub, on Dublin's Talbot Street. FACEBOOK
‘This decrease represents an acceleration of the downward year-on-year trend in foreign visitor numbers that first emerged in September 2024.
‘The visitors’ expenditure in Ireland (excluding fares) was €196million, a decrease of 31% compared with February 2024. However, the mean expenditure per visitor decreased by just 1.8% to €643.’
‘The typical visit lasted 5.9 nights.’
‘DEEPLY CONCERNING’
The alarming statistics have also raised the concerns of restaurateurs who have said that if the figures continue into March and beyond, then the industry would have to be classed as being ‘in crisis’.
Adrian Cummins of the Restaurant Association of Ireland said: ‘This is deeply concerning, it’s not where we want to be at all. So much so that we will be meeting with the minister [Patrick O’Donovan] next week and this will be a top-of-agenda item.
‘If the stats go into a third month, then we are in crisis mode. We’re not there yet but we’re getting there.’
Mr Cummins also said that restaurants need certainty on Government promises to reduce the VAT rates in food hospitality from 13.5% to 9%.
Publicans have also sounded the alarm at the dwindling numbers of tourists coming into the country.
The Licensed Vintners’ Association, which represents Dublin pub owners, said it was deeply concerned with the falling number of visitors.
Its CEO, Donall O’Keeffe, said it is ‘insane’ that the passenger cap at Dublin Airport has not been amended to allow more people to visit the country.
‘We’ve had Dublin Airport Authority saying they took 20,000 less passengers in over the St Patrick’s weekend.
‘That’s hugely damaging for tourism, for hospitality.
‘We’re an island nation. Access to our country is absolutely critical.’
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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