The number of visitors to Ireland increased by 8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures published yesterday.
They show that immigration has boosted visits from the relatives of people working here.
They also show that Irish visitors continue to spend more abroad than overseas visitors spend in this country.
In its latest quarterly review of tourism and travel statistics, the CSO reports 1,390,000 visits to Ireland between January and March. This compares with 1,290,000 in 2005.
While visits from other European countries were up 16 per cent, there was a 3 per cent fall in visits from the US and Canada.
The study reveals a marked increase in the numbers travelling here to visit friends and relatives. This total was 469,000 in the first quarter of the year compared with 414,000 in the first quarter of 2005.
The figures do not provide a country breakdown of inward travel but a CSO spokesperson said visits from Poland increased 76 per cent in March.
The figures show some 1,346,000 Irish people travelled abroad in the first quarter, a rise of 11 per cent on a year earlier.
The net inward flow of tourists to the country was offset by the fact that Irish tourists spent more abroad than was spent here by foreign visitors.
Between January and March of this year expenditure by Irish visitors abroad was €1,008 million, compared to €733 million earned from foreign visitors here. This is despite an increase in the average length of stay of overseas visitors and a fall in the average length of stay overseas by Irish tourists.