Overseas visitors to the State increased by a little more than 10 per cent in the first three months of this year, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office.
However, the figures also show that the number of transatlantic visitors fell by 17.6 per cent in January, February and March. The decline is thought to be due to fears of terrorists attacks in the aftermath of September 11th.
The drop in transatlantic traffic, most of it from the US and Canada, has affected visitor spend across the State and offers an early indication of the poor season reported by the industry.
The figures also show that, for the first time since quarterly statistics were made available, Irish visitors abroad spent more than visitors to the State during this period.
In total, there were 1,147,000 overseas visitors between January and March, an increase of 10.3 per cent, compared with 1,040,000 for the same period the previous year when the foot-and-mouth outbreak curbed visitor numbers.
A substantial increase of 19.1 per cent in British visitors made up for the decline in transatlantic tourists.
Overseas visitors on cross-channel routes were found to be up 14 per cent, while an increase of traffic on continental routes of 6.4 per cent was found. Those visiting the State for business reasons dropped by 10.2 per cent.
The figures show a significant increase in those travelling abroad. The number of Irish people going abroad in the first quarter was 901,500, an increase of 17.5 per cent on the corresponding period in 2001.
Outbound Irish traffic on continental routes grew by just over 20 per cent, while the numbers of Irish people leaving the State on transatlantic routes fell by 11.1 per cent.
In an unprecendented development, the latest figures show visitors to the State spent less during January, February and March than was spent by Irish visitors abroad. Tourism earnings from visitors accounted for €660 million while expenditure by Irish visitors abroad was €663 million.
Welcoming the increase in overseas visitors, the Minister for Sport and Tourism, Mr Donoghue, said he was not surprised.
"I had expected the first quarter to be strong," he said. "Even though the figures are inflated by the early advent of Easter, they are still impressive".
The figures have been played down by industry sources who credit an early Easter and poor figures the year before due to foot-and-mouth with the early boost to tourism.
"The first quarter only accounts for a sixth of arrivals. You also have to look at the fact that last year there were so many difficulties including foot-and-mouth that the comparison is skewed," said Mr John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation.
The British market was showing improvement, he added, but there was a serious problem with the US market.
While welcoming the rise, Senator Michael McCarthy of Labour said the figures emphasised the need for more investment in marketing in the UK and continental Europe.
"There is absolutely no room for complacency in Government or the tourist industry," he said. It was still estimated that that overall visitor numbers to Ireland this year would be down, he added, but the slight increase in visitors from the UK and Europe was encouraging.
Mr O'Donoghue, who recently made €3 million available for marketing tourism, cautioned against expecting the growth to continue for the rest of the year.
"Despite the good start to the year, I fully recognise that 2002 is a challenging one for the tourism sector and that many individual businesses and sectors are experiencing difficulties," he said.