Irish Tourism Industry Confederation - ITIC

10/04/2025

🎥Irish is heavily reliant on North American visitors and their wallets, and the volatile economic signals from the US have caused industry leaders some concern.

Our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh caught up with Tourism Ireland Head of North America, Alison Metcalfe, to talk about their plans to stimulate demand in the US and increase business from Canada on the back of excellent transatlantic air access.

Take a look here➡️

Irish tourism is heavily reliant on North American visitors and their wallets and the volatile economic signals from the US have caused industry leaders some...

09/04/2025

🚨Tourism - Ireland's largest indigenous industry
Ireland’s and sector has long been known as the country’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer.

This is underpinned by a variety of data sources including our recent bespoke research by Jim. This short bulletin looks at the value of tourism, employment numbers by region, the industry’s contribution to the exchequer, and the sector’s vital part in the national economy.

Make sure you have a read here➡️ https://www.itic.ie/irelands-top-indigenous-industry/

27/03/2025

📽️Former Ambassador Daniel Mulhall discusses Trump, tourism and Ireland’s soft power

In a wide-ranging interview with our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, they discuss the unprecedented global political and economic times we live in and their likely impact on Ireland. Dan refers to his experience of President Trump, his knowledge of Britain and Europe, and also stresses that Ireland’s soft power through culture and heritage is vital to maintain.

Also Dan's involvement with the ! Watch here to find out

Daniel Mulhall was one of Ireland’s top diplomats for 4 decades and served as Irish Ambassador in the US, Britain and Germany among other postings. He has be...

14/03/2025

📽️The importance of Tourist Guides - Ireland is known internationally for its scenery, culture and friendliness of its people, and for decades tour guides have played a crucial role in bringing these three aspects together.

Multi-lingual, multi-talented licensed tour guides enrich the Irish tourism experience for the benefit of the visitor.

Our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh recently met with Deirdre Woodbyrne, Trade Liason of the Approved Tourist Guides of Ireland to hear about the importance and value of guides to the visitor experience

Ireland is known internationally for its scenery, culture and friendliness of its people, and for decades tour guides have played a crucial role in bringing ...

07/03/2025

🔴Behind the Data - In our recent review of inbound tourism statistics for 2024, the performance from Mainland Europe proved mixed in 2024 compared to 2023. Visitor numbers from the key markets of France and Germany were up 2% and 4% respectively, with overall European spend up 8%.

There was a marked reduction in the number of nights spent in Ireland by Europeans (-11%) with the average length of stay falling from 9.4 nights to 8 nights (-15%).

Check out our full review here➡️ https://itic.ie/btd2024/

05/03/2025

🔴Behind the Data - In our recent review of inbound tourism statistics for 2024, Great Britain remains the largest source market by volume for Irish tourism, although a significant proportion of these visitors fall into the ‘visiting friends and relatives’ category rather than ‘holidaymaker’.

Overall there was 3% increase in visitors from England, Scotland and Wales and spend was up 9%.

British visitors on average spend €509 while in Ireland compared to €884 by Europeans, €1,415 by those from the Rest of the World or €1,526 by North Americans.

Check out our full review here➡️ https://itic.ie/btd2024/

03/03/2025

🔴Behind the Data - In our recent review of inbound tourism statistics for 2024, North America has become increasingly important and now accounts for 36% of overall spend. As welcome as this is, it does mean a risk of over-concentration in one key source market.

1.24 million US visitors (+9%) and 198,100 Canadian visitors (+24%) enjoyed the Irish tourism product last year.

US and Canadian visitors spent on average €1,526 per person while in Ireland in 2024, three times what the average British visitor spent (€509) and nearly double what the average European tourist spent (€884).

Check out our full review here➡️ https://itic.ie/btd2024/

26/02/2025

🔴Behind the Data - In our recent review of inbound tourism statistics for 2024, we found revenue (+11%) and volume of international visitors (+5%) are up compared to 2023, but the key metric of the number of nights those visitors stayed in the country is down (-4%).

Check out our full review here➡️ https://itic.ie/btd2024/

25/02/2025

🚨ICYMI Last week we issued our "Behind the Data" report that delves into annual Irish tourism statistics for 2024.

It outlines some of the key findings and interpretations of Central Statistics Office Ireland inbound tourism statistics for 2024, the first time due to methodological changes that there is a direct annual comparison with 2023 data.

Although there are many positive indicators, there are some causes of concern below the headline figures.

Make sure to check it out➡️ https://itic.ie/btd2024/

24/02/2025

📹Business Events a key part of Ireland’s tourism economy

Business events are worth €800 million to the Irish economy and support 20,000 jobs. But as well as the economic benefits they also bring societal and environmental positives.

Our CEO, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, caught up with Nicola McGrane, CEO of Conference Partners International, and Board member of AIPCO, to talk about Ireland’s business events strategy. Talk a look here➡️

Business events are worth €800 million to the Irish tourism economy and support 20,000 jobs. But as well as the economic benefits they also bring societal an...

19/02/2025

Our Chair, Niall MacCarthy, and CEO, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, were delighted to meet new Minister for Tourism Peter Burke TD today to discuss the priorities of the new Government, opportunities for the sector, as well as some of the very challenging roadblocks that face the sector.

19/02/2025

📢Behind the Data: A dive into annual Irish tourism statistics

Last week the Central Statistics Office Ireland published inbound tourism statistics for 2024. This is the first time, due to methodological changes, that there is a direct annual comparison with the previous year.

We have studied the data and this bulletin outlines some of the key findings and interpretations. Make sure to check it out➡️ https://www.itic.ie/btd2024/

24/01/2025

📰New Government, New Minister, New Direction: An Analysis of Tourism Priorities of the 34th Dáil.
Read our synopsis here➡️https://bit.ly/3PULfhb

Tourism faces many opportunities and certain challenges in the years ahead and business working with Agencies and Government can maximise ’s potential for the country.

23/01/2025

Congratulations to Peter Burke TD on his appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. The Irish tourism industry wish him every success and look forward to working with him.

21/01/2025

🗳️A voice for tourism, hospitality and SMEs in Seanad Éireann; interview with candidate Adrian Cummins

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has nominated Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, to Seanad Éireann. Here he speaks to our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh about his 3 point manifesto - supporting SMEs, organ donation, and local government reform.

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The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has nominated Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, to Seanad Eireann.Adrian discusses his ...

16/01/2025

📹This week Tourism Ireland launched their marketing plans for 2025 to continue stimulating demand from overseas markets.

Our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh caught up with Alice Mansergh, Tourism Ireland CEO, to hear about what this year might hold including opportunities and challenges, a new creative agency and the importance of working with industry partners.

Have a look here➡️https://youtu.be/1Wb8XOKg5S0

This week Tourism Ireland launched their marketing plans for 2025 to continue stimulating demand from overseas markets.The Irish Tourism Industry Confederati...

02/01/2025

📻What did 2024 deliver for Irish tourism and what does 2025 hold in store? Our CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh recently spoke to Mary Wilson on Morning Ireland about the highs and lows for Irish tourism➡️

Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation looks back at the highs and lows for Irish tourism in 2024.

31/12/2024

🚨2024 Tourism Review & 2025 Outlook - 2024 has proven a mixed year for Irish tourism & hospitality businesses with visitor spend up but bed nights down.

In our review of 2024 we estimate that 6.6 million international visitors came to Ireland this year spending €6.2 billion, an increase of 13%. The length of time visitors spent in the country was down 3% & the largest source market of business was North America.

ITIC forecasts continued revenue growth in 2025 although this is predicated on pro-tourism and pro-enterprise polices from the incoming Government.

Read our 2024 Review and 2025 Outlook here➡️ https://www.itic.ie/ye24-outlook25/