Northern Ireland’s tourism chief has welcomed the spike in the number of nights and the money people from the Republic are spending in the six counties.
Figures from the CSO, released last week, show an increase in tourism flowing across the borders, with 1.3 million overnight trips taken by visitors from the Republic to Northern Ireland in 2023, up 46% compared to 2022.
These trips translated into almost 3 million overnight stays and spending of more than £267m, an increase of 48% on the numbers recorded in 2022.
The CSO data showed that all types of tourism grew rapidly in 2023 – holiday trips, visiting friends and relatives, and business tourism.
Research conducted by tourism NI has found that the vast majority of Republic of Ireland visitors to NI had their expectations matched or exceeded.
The range of things to see and do, the quality of food and drink, and the warmth of the welcome were rated most highly.
tourism NI noted that the influx of visitors…
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