200,000
total number of visits by Irish visitors to Scotland in 2023
686,000
total number of nights spent in Scotland by Irish visitors in Scotland in 2023
£84 million
total spend by Irish visitors to Scotland in 2023
3.4
average nights per visit by Irish visitors to Scotland in 2023
Source: IPS, 2023 (numbers have been rounded)
In 2023, Ireland was Scotland’s sixth largest international source market measured by number of visits. It was ninth by expenditure and twelfth by number of nights.
Irish visitors accounted for 5% of all overseas visits to Scotland and 2% of all overseas spend in Scotland in 2023.
The average spend per trip in 2023 was £417. The average spend per night was £121.
The average length of stay was 3.4 nights.
Source: IPS, 2023
In 2022, our partner, VisitBritain undertook comprehensive research with international leisure travellers. They spoke to global tourists from many markets, including Ireland.
Whilst the research focuses on perceptions and experiences of Britain, there are insights which are useful for the Scottish tourism industry.
West European markets are more likely to demand a variety of interesting people, experiences and food and beverage options. These needs seem more distinctive than drivers in the other European regions.
Read the full VisitBritain MIDAS researchThe International Passenger Survey is a continuous survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics. It covers all major air, sea and tunnel ports.
The survey provides information on the numbers and types of visits made by people travelling to and from the UK. Anonymous face to face interviews are undertaken with a sample of passengers entering and leaving the UK.
Find out more on the survey methodology on ons.gov.uk.
Read further ONS publications on ons.gov.uk.
Read how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the IPS data collection on visitbritain.org.
