The number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first five months of the year rose by 14 per cent to 2,751,500 compared with the same period last year, according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Offices yesterday.
A total of 710,700 overseas visitors travelled to Ireland in May 2006, compared to 602,400 in 2005.
The biggest increase in visitors came from Britain, with numbers for May up by 49,700 on the previous year.Visitors from other European countries increased by 49,300.
Trips from Britain were up almost 13 per cent for the first five months of the year, while the number of visits from mainland Europe was up by 23 per cent and from North America by 3.7 per cent. The main reasons for travel were holiday or leisure (49 per cent), visiting friends or relatives (30 per cent) and business (14 per cent).
More than half of all visitors arrived on cross-channel flights, which remains the most popular route of travel. This is followed by cross- channel travel by sea and continental European travel.
Why holiday in Ireland? Q&A
Tom Vick. Ontario, Canada
I came for the wedding of a friend whom I met 30 years ago in Nigeria. I wouldn't have come here except for that, it wasn't a country very high on our must-visit list. I would come again for the great hospitality but I don't like the weather.
Clare Ryan. Marin County, San Francisco
A group of us from an organisation called Experiment in International Living are here for five weeks to study peace and conflict. It's an awesome country, so pretty and everyone is really friendly. My family are from here.
David Agocs. Lausanne, Switzerland
This is my fourth time on holiday in Ireland. I just love everything about the place, the landscape, the people, the beer. I think my favourite place would be the Aran Islands. The only thing I don't like is when the rain is really strong.
Harry Garibsingh. Trinidad and Tobago
I came here with a group for the World Conference of Credit Unions, we decided to stay on afterwards and make it a holiday. My country is nice but yours is first-class. Better transport, no traffic jams and really clean.