Tourist Numbers From Republic Up By Half In 2023

In what is excellent news for the tourist industry in Northern Ireland, the most recent data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that the number of visitors from the Republic to the North was up by nearly 50% last year, in comparison to the previous year.

There were around 1.3 million visitors from the Republic of Ireland to the North in 2023, an increase of 46.4% from 2022, and they also spent well over £250 million which is a great boost for the economy. The stats showed that there were nearly 3 million overnight stays during last year.

All Types Of Tourism Grew Rapidly In 2023

In an article in the Belfast Telegraph Tourism NI is quoted as saying that:

“The Central Statistics Office (CSO) data showed that all types of tourism grew rapidly in 2023 – holiday trips, visiting friends and relatives, and business tourism.

 “The range of things to see and do, the quality of food and drink, and the warmth of the welcome were rated most highly,”

Exceptional Results Given The Economic Climate And The Competition

And in the same article Tourism NI chief executive, John McGrillen said:

“These results are exceptional, especially given the tough economic climate and the increased levels of competition from other destinations. We are clearly reaping the rewards of additional investment in new visitor experiences in recent years, and increased marketing and promotion in the Republic of Ireland.

“Our research shows that every part of NI is benefiting from this investment and the very strong growth in visitor numbers and spend which has resulted from it. While there continue to be challenges for the industry, these results demonstrate tourism’s growth potential as we look to the future”.

I don’t think that there has ever been any doubt that here in Northern Ireland we are blessed with a country of outstanding natural beauty, along with a rich cultural history. We are also famed for our hospitality to our visitors and rightly so too. But we have maybe not had the best press at times or maybe failed to promote the country strongly enough.

These latest figures are hopefully showing that the tide is turning and prospective visitors are beginning to see the value in coming over to Northern Ireland. As more people are now coming over this should start to have a domino effect and I am sure we will see visitor numbers rise and rise over the next few months and years.