Irish people spent nearly €1.5 billion on international trips in the last three months of 2006 - a figure 25 per cent higher than the amount spent during the same period the previous year, according to survey results released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The survey, which was completed by a random sample of 13,000 Irish households, also found that people aged 60 to 69 had the highest percentage increase in the number of trips taken in 2006.
As a whole, the group took 43 per cent more international and 36 per cent more domestic trips than a year before.
Younger people, however, travelled less: the 30 to 39 age group took 16 per cent fewer international trips and 25 per cent fewer domestic trips in 2006 than they had in 2005.
Central and South America were popular destinations in 2006, with a 44 per cent increase in Irish visitors to the region. The number of trips to Asia and the Middle East also surged, with a 42 per cent growth over the year.
The UK was the most popular EU destination of 2006, followed by Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.
Domestic travel spending was also up: holidaymakers and business travellers spent €351.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, a growth of 35 per cent.