The number of tourists coming to Ireland in February of this year plummeted by 30% compared to the same time last year, the latest figures from Central Statistics Office show.
The latest CSO data shows that 304,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland last month, down from 433,300 in February of last year.
And there was a similar dip in visitor numbers in January which fell from 25% to 338,900 from 451,900 in January of last year.
The visitors who came here last month spent a total of 1.8 million nights, a drop of 33% compared with the same month in 2024.
Their average length of stay was 5.9 nights, down from an average of 6.2 nights in February 2024.
The CSO said that visitors spent €195.6m on their trips, a decrease of 31% compared with February 2024.
The average cost of their trips, excluding fares in February 2025 was €643, down from €655 in February of last year.
The CSO said the largest contingent of visitors came from Great Britain (49%), and the second largest came from the US (10%).
Gregg Patrick, CSO Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division, 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.
"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 €196 million, a decrease of 31% compared with February 2024. However, the mean expenditure per visitor decreased by just 1.8% to €643.
The number of visitors coming to Ireland in February of this year plummeted by 30% compared to the same time last year
"In terms of revenue generated, the most important tourism markets were both Continental Europe (36%) and Great Britain (36%). These were followed by North America (18%), and the Rest of the World (10%).
"More of the visitors stayed in their own property or with family or friends (44%) than in any other accommodation type, and the typical visit lasted 5.9 nights.”
