Tourism figures for July 2026 show year-to-date overnight visits by foreign residents up 13%
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 August 2026) published Inbound Tourism July 2026. The Inbound Tourism release is published every month and provides unique and timely insights on visitor trips to Ireland.
Inbound Tourism July 2026 – Key Findings
- Some 676,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in July 2026, an increase of 5% when compared with July 2025 and up 3% compared with July 2024.
- Year-to-date overnight visits by foreign residents were estimated at 3.9 million, an increase of 13% compared with January to July 2025 (3.5 million) and up 0.4% 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% on July 2025 and down 2% 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%) and Continental Europe (32%) accounted for the largest share, compared with North America (30%), and the Rest of the World (6%).
- In July 2026, 50% of overnight foreign visitors indicated that the main purpose of their trip was for Holidays, Leisure & Recreation, 29% said it was for visiting Friends & Relatives, and 11% of trips were for Business reasons.
- Expenditure by foreign visitors in July 2026 was estimated at €681 million, up 9% compared with July 2025 (€624 million), and up 5% compared with July 2024 (€650 million).
Commenting on the release, Edward Duffy, Statistician in the Tourism and Travel Division, said:
“The survey results show that just over 676,000 foreign resident visitors completed a trip to Ireland in July 2026, an increase of 5% compared with July 2025 and up 3% compared with July 2024. The number of nights spent in Ireland by foreign visitors in July was just less than 5.2 million nights, up 2% when compared with July 2025 and down 2% compared with July 2024. Year-to-date overnight visits by foreign residents were estimated at 3.9 million, an increase of 13% compared with January to July 2025 (3.5 million) and up 0.4% compared with 2024 (3.9 million).
In July 2026, the greatest number of visitors came from Continental Europe (32%), and Great Britain (32%), followed by North America (30%), and the Rest of the World (6%). For the most part, visitor numbers rose in July 2026 when compared with July 2025: Great Britain (+4%), Continental Europe (+9%), and North America (+2%), while visitors from the Rest of the World fell when compared with July 2025 (-1%). The leading purpose for travel to Ireland in July 2026 was for Holidays, Leisure & Recreation (50%), followed by Visiting Friends & Relatives (29%), and Business trips (11%).
The visitors’ expenditure in Ireland (excluding fares) was €681 million in July 2026. Visitors from North America accounted for €300 million (44%), Continental Europe for €209 million (31%), Great Britain for €127 million (19%), and visitors from the Rest of the World for €45 million (7%). Taken together, this represented an increase of 9% when compared with July 2025, and a rise of 5% when compared with July 2024.”
Read the full report HERE
