Ireland Posts Strong 2025 Tourism Revenue Growth Led by North America

Dublin (TRI) — Ireland is set to close 2025 with overseas tourism revenue in the €6.5–€6.7 billion range — representing a 5–7% increase over 2024 and the third consecutive year of growth — despite passenger caps at Dublin Airport constraining overall volume, according to the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) Quarterly Tourism Barometer released 2 December 2025.

Cumulative overseas expenditure excluding international fares reached €6.2 billion through November, a 13% year-on-year increase as reported by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Overseas Travel November bulletin. While total overseas arrivals are projected at 6.8–7.0 million (approximately 3–5% above 2024), average length of stay has risen to 7.9 nights and revenue per visitor continues to climb, underscoring Ireland’s deliberate pivot toward higher-yield markets.

North America has been the primary growth engine, contributing more than 27% of total revenue and posting monthly gains ranging from 11% to 33% compared to both 2024 and pre-pandemic benchmarks, according to Tourism Ireland’s November regional performance update. The United States alone accounted for over 2.1 million visitors in the year to date, with Canada adding another 350,000+, fueled by new direct routes from cities such as Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Minneapolis and aggressive co-op marketing campaigns.

In contrast, arrivals from Mainland Europe and Great Britain have softened, with non-North American markets down 8–12% in several months due to capacity reductions, economic headwinds in key feeder countries such as Germany and France, and lingering post-Brexit friction, as noted in the CSO’s monthly overseas travel series. Holiday trips continue to dominate motivation at 43–47%, followed by visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and business travel.

Regionally, Dublin maintains a 70% share of first-port arrivals, while the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East together capture the majority of multi-night itineraries. The Hidden Heartlands and Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route are recording the fastest percentage growth in bed nights, supported by Fáilte Ireland’s regional experience development funds and new signature experiences such as the reimagined Beyond the Trees Avondale and the expanded Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

Visa and entry requirements remain among Europe’s most traveler-friendly: citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the European Union enjoy visa-free access for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Since October 2025, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been registering biometric data for all non-EU short-stay visitors at Irish airports and ports, with processing times averaging under three minutes. The upcoming ETIAS pre-authorization (€7, valid three years) will become mandatory in late 2026 but is not yet required.

Looking ahead, Tourism Ireland’s 2026 global marketing plan, unveiled in Dublin on 3 December, allocates the largest-ever budget to North America and introduces new campaigns targeting shoulder-season travel and premium experiential product. Combined with planned increases in long-haul seat capacity (including Aer Lingus’ new Nashville and Indianapolis routes) and ongoing investment in luxury accommodation such as the new Cashel Palace and Adare Manor expansions, the framework supports the national target of €9 billion in annual overseas tourism revenue by 2030.

For travel professionals, the continued strength of the U.S. and Canadian markets, lengthening stays, and premium product pipeline present sustained high-margin opportunities into 2026 and beyond.