New data from Ireland‘s Central Statistics Office indicates that growing number of Irish residents are choosing to travel abroad, rather than holiday at home.
As the data showed, Irish residents took 15.1 million overnight trips outside of Ireland in 2025, marking an 11% increase compared with 2024. In contrast, domestic overnight travel fell by 8% over the same period, with 15.3 million trips recorded.
Holidays remained the dominant reason for travelling abroad, accounting for 60% of all overseas trips, followed by visits to friends and relatives (24%) and business travel (9%), the CSO‘s data showed.
The data also showed that Irish residents spent a total of 82.9 million nights abroad in 2025, compared with 33.4 million nights within Ireland. The average overseas trip lasted 5.5 nights, significantly longer than the average domestic trip of 2.2 nights.
Fourth quarter
In the fourth quarter of last year – i.e. between October and December 2025 – Irish residents took 3.4 million overnight trips abroad, a 6% increase year-on-year. At the same time, domestic overnight trips declined by 12% to 3.5 million during the same period.
“The number of nights spent by Irish residents on domestic overnight trips taken in Q4 2025 decreased by 16% compared with Q4 2024,” commented Aaron Costello, statistician in the CSO’s Tourism and Travel division. “Visits to friends or relatives accounted for the largest share of total domestic nights at 40%, followed by holiday trips (38%). Business travel represented 6% of all overnight stays.”
Post-pandemic trends
The figures reflect broader post-pandemic travel trends, where pent-up demand for international travel continues to drive outbound tourism growth.
“During 2025, domestic travel accounted for 15.3 million trips, resulting in 33.4 million nights,” Costello added. “Domestic overnight trips were down 8% compared with 2024. The average domestic trip duration in 2025 was in line with 2024 at 2.2 nights.
“Meanwhile, Irish residents made 15.1 million overnight trips outside of Ireland in 2025, generating 82.9 million nights. Such trips were up 11% compared with 2024. The average trip duration was 5.5 nights, versus 5.9 in 2024.” Read more here.
