In 2023, the total contribution of travel and tourism to Ireland's gross domestic product (GDP) was roughly 17.7 percent higher than in 2019, the year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the total contribution of these industries to the country's GDP amounted to 19.3 billion euros in 2023. This figure was expected to reach an estimated 20.4 billion euros in 2024.

The tourism openness over gross domestic product in Ireland has slightly decreased over the period from 2007 to 2019. According to data from the UNWTO, tourism openness over GDP in Ireland was at *** percent in 2019.

This statistic presents the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Ireland from 2012 to 2018, with a forecast for 2028. In 2018, travel and tourism is estimated to have directly contributed 5.7 billion euros to GDP in Ireland.

International visitors account for the highest share of travel and tourism spending in Ireland. In 2023, inbound travelers generated 78.9 percent of the total travel and tourism expenditure in the country. This figure shows an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2019.

A 2023 study analyzed the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Dublin's gross domestic product (GDP). After dropping to just above one billion euros in 2020 due to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, these industries' direct contribution to GDP in the city was forecast to reach an estimated 3.8 billion euros in 2022.

Leisure travel accounts for the highest share of travel and tourism spending in Ireland. In 2023, leisure travelers generated 70.5 percent of the total travel and tourism expenditure in the country, with no significant change from 2019.

In 2024, the inflation rate in Ireland amounted to about 1.32 percent compared to the previous year. Ireland’s inflation is forecast to stabilize over the coming years at around two percent. The Irish recessionIreland’s economy was the first one in the EU to collapse and enter a recession during the financial crisis of 2008. Unemployment skyrocketed, gross domestic product declined, many Irish workers emigrated to find jobs elsewhere, and even a decade later, Ireland still struggles to return to its former standards. GDP growth, for example, still fluctuates considerably, just like inflation, and unemployment seems to have only just recovered. To good health and a stable economy The Central European Bank recommends a stable inflation around two percent as ideal, and Ireland seems to be on the right track. Most of its GDP is generated by services, for example tourism and financial services. However, the alcohol industry is also an important player: In 2018, more than 3.7 billion U.S. dollars in revenue were reported by the Irish alcoholic drinks market.