Fluctuating fortunes for Irish tourism
19 October 2000
The number of holiday-makers visiting Ireland fell by 8% in the first three months of 2000, compared with the same period last year, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.
But the following three months, from April to June, saw a 5% increase in total visitor numbers, to 1.7 million.
Ireland attracted six million overseas visitors last year, contributing more than IR£2.5b (£1.97b) to the economy.
Last year 4.4 million people visited Dublin alone, representing an increase of8% on the previous year.
They spent more than IR£707m (£528m) in the city - 12% more than they did in 1998.
