TRIPS TO IRELAND from October to December 2012 increased by 5 per cent to 1,438,000, which represents an overall increase of 68,300 compared to a year earlier, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Trips by residents coming from North America increased by 14.2 per cent to 201,300 and visitors from European countries other than Britain increased by 8.8 per cent to 505,400. Visitors coming from other areas including Africa, Australia and the Middle East increased by 15.5 per cent to 85,000.The number of visitors from Britain fell by 1.3 per cent to 646,400.

The total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents during the period October to December 2012 increased by 3.8 per cent to 1,360,400.

Figures show the total number of trips to and from Ireland in the period increased 4.4 per cent to 2,79,400 when compared with the same period the year before.

In 2012, the total number of overseas trips made by Irish residents was 6,325,800, an increase of 0.5 per cent over 2011. There was an increase of 0.2 percent to 6,517,200 in the number of trips that were made to Ireland in 2012.

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