The new EU states and eastern European countries are a new growth area for short trips taken by Irish residents, a Central Statistics Office survey has shown.
The number of trips taken by Irish people to European countries outside the original 15 member-states almost doubled to 61,000 in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2003.
The amount spent during the trips, both for those on holidays and business, amounted to the highest ever at €50 million from January to March this year, compared to €34.4m in the same period last year, €31.2 million in 2002 and €37.5 million in 2001.
While the number of trips have increased, people are staying for a shorter time in the category classified as "other Europe". This lists 32 countries including all ten new member states, eastern European countries and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
The CSO Household Travel Survey for January to March this year shows that Irish people are going abroad more and trips to the US, Australia and New Zealand have increased.
A total of 1,069,000 international trips with at least one overnight stop were taken in the first quarter of 2004, compared to 954,000 in the same period last year. Trips to the US increased by 23 per cent in the first quarter this year compared to 2003 but Irish people are not staying as long.
Trips to Northern Ireland increased by 26 per cent, while people resident in the State are also taking more breaks at home with the number growing by 9.5 per cent. Most are short breaks with the average length of stay of 2.6 nights.
More people are staying in Irish hotels/conference centres with an increase of 15.7 per cent and less want to stay in guest houses and B&Bs, with a fall of 7.4 per cent.