The number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first six months of the year rose to over 2 million, a 15 per cent increase on the same period last year, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Figures released yesterday showed that revenue from visitors to Ireland rose to £265 million in the first quarter of the year.
This is an increase of about 8 per cent on the same period last year. The overall length of stay of visitors to Ireland on air and sea routes during January to March was seven nights.
Overseas visits to Ireland between last April and June numbered about 1,317,000. Between last January and March there were 685,000 overseas visits.
The Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny, said he was encouraged by the figures which represented "another record breaking year for tourism in Ireland".