There was 1.7 million domestic trips with at least of one overnight stay in the last three months of 2004, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
This represents a growth of 6 per cent on the same quarter in 2003.
But when compared with 2003 the total number of bednights spent on domestic trips in the fourth quarter of 2004 fell by 4 per cent
There were 3 per cent fewer bednights spent in guest house/B&B's and 8 per cent fewer in hotels/conference centres.
But nights spent in holiday homes grew by 24 per cent and in self-catering/rented house accommodation by 2 per cent.
Estimated expenditure on domestic trips fell by 9 per cent from €225.3 million in fourth quarter of 2003 to €206 million in fourth quarter 2004.
Expenditure on domestic business trips fell by 36 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2003 reflecting decreases in the number of business trips.
Separate figures from the CSO show that exports fell by 2 per cent in February from January to €6,937 million and imports dropped 3 per cent to €4,255 million.