Fáilte Ireland has published its preliminary Tourism Facts 2016, a compilation of key findings on tourism performance in Ireland in 2016. With data from a number of sources, the report provides detail on where tourists came from, where they went in Ireland, why overseas tourists came to Ireland, where they stayed, and what they did during last year.
Fáilte Ireland draws from a wide variety of sources to produce the report, including the Central Statistics Office, the Northern Ireland Research and Statistics Agency, and its own surveys of overseas and domestic tourists, along with inputs from accommodation providers and visitor attractions.
Caeman Wall, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Research, said: “This comprehensive reference guide for tourism in Ireland provides us with the necessary insights for planning and developing future tourism. For example, this year’s Tourism Facts 2016 tells us that while Britain remains our largest source market for overseas tourism, Mainland Europe is delivering more holidaymakers. Furthermore, for first time ever, Ireland has broken the one million barrier for North American holidaymakers. While we have known for some time that 2016 was a record year for tourism, today’s report adds more layers to our understanding of that performance.”
Tourism Facts 2016 Insights
- Britain remains our biggest source market for overseas tourists, representing 41% of all such visits.
- The next biggest source market is Mainland Europe, which accounts for 36% of international volume.
- Some 17% of overseas tourists come from North America.
- The balance, 6%, comes from other long-haul markets.
- However, when it comes to holidays, Mainland Europe generates 39% of our overseas holidaymakers, followed by Britain at 32% and North America 24%.
- In 2016, for the first time, we broke the one million barrier for North American holidaymakers.
