Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) published its monthly Inbound Tourism release on 29 September, revealing that 788,700 foreign residents departed the country in August 2026—up 2 % on the same month last year. Total visitor spending (excluding air and sea fares) reached €729 million, down 2 % year-on-year but still robust, with North American tourists accounting for 36 %. Notably for corporate-mobility planners, business-related travel represented just 8 % of visits, a slight uptick on July but well below the 2019 pre-pandemic share of 12 %. The figures suggest that while conferences and assignments are rebounding, discretionary executive trips remain more muted than leisure traffic. Year-to-date numbers show 4.7 million overnight foreign visitors between January and August, an 11 % increase on 2025. Average length of stay fell to 8.3 nights, indicating travellers are squeezing more activity into shorter itineraries—an insight useful for relocation firms booking temporary housing. Great Britain continues to deliver the largest share of visitors (36 %), followed by continental Europe (34 %) and North America (25 %). Airlines and airports will welcome the sustained demand, particularly as they lobby for removal of the Dublin passenger cap. However, the 2 % dip in expenditure hints at cost-conscious behaviour amid higher hotel and car-rental prices. Employers sending staff on assignment may face tighter accommodation markets yet limited per-diem flexibility. The CSO will update September travel data in late October; mobility stakeholders should watch for seasonal shifts that could influence fourth-quarter project deployments.
Source: Central Statistics Office
