Over 670,000 tourists visited Ireland in July, up 5% per cent on last year

Kenneth Fox

Some 676,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in July 2026, an increase of 5 per cent when compared with July 2025 and up 3 per cent compared with July 2024.

Year-to-date overnight visits by foreign residents were estimated at 3.9 million, an increase of 13 per cent compared with January to July 2025 (3.5 million) and up 0.4 per cent compared with 2024 (3.9 million).

Foreign visitors who departed Ireland in July 2026 stayed a total of 5.2 million nights in the country, up 2 per cent on July 2025 and down 2 per cent on July 2024.

The average length of stay for foreign resident overnight visitors was 7.6 nights, down from 7.9 nights in July 2025.

Visitors from Great Britain (32 per cent) and Continental Europe (32 per cent) accounted for the largest share, compared with North America (30 per cent), and the Rest of the World (6 per cent).

In July 2026, 50 per cent of overnight foreign visitors indicated that the main purpose of their trip was for holidays, leisure & recreation, 29 per cent said it was for visiting Friends & Relatives, and 11 per cent of trips were for Business reasons.

Expenditure by foreign visitors in July 2026 was estimated at €681 million, up 9 per cent compared with July 2025 (€624 million), and up 5 per cent compared with July 2024 (€650 million).

Commenting on the release, Edward Duffy, statistician in the tourism and travel division, said: "For the most part, visitor numbers rose in July 2026 when compared with July 2025: Great Britain (+4 per cent), Continental Europe (+9 per cent), and North America (+2 per cent), while visitors from the Rest of the World fell (-1 per cent).

"Visitors from North America accounted for €300 million (44 per cent), Continental Europe for €209 million (31 per cent), Great Britain for €127 million (19 per cent), and visitors from the Rest of the World for €45 million (7 per cent)."