Ireland hopes for ‘holidays at home’, following reports of a slump in the number of tourists visiting from overseas.

Leading experts on the Irish tourism industry are hoping that the loss in revenue from the drop in overseas visitors to Ireland can be cushioned by more Irish people opting to holiday at home. 

Figures released earlier this week have shown that the number of tourists arriving on our shores has dropped by nearly 10%, between January and February 2009, while the number of Irish people holidaying abroad has fallen for the first time in almost 10 years.

Failte Ireland have said that the reduction in the numbers of overseas visitors may be off-set by this recent trend of ‘holidaying at home’, tourists can take advantage of the current climate by getting reduced rates for hotels, visitor attractions, and Irish car hire, as the industry battles to protect itself in the current economic climate.