THE NUMBER of visitors to the Republic fell by 11.6 per cent last year, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
During 2009 there were 6,927,000 overseas visits to the State, compared with 7,839,000 in 2008.
The number of overseas visits dropped on all routes last year and there was a corresponding decline in expenditure by visitors to the country.
Trips on cross-channel routes fell by 15.6 per cent during the year, while related expenditure fell by 21.5 per cent.
Business trips were down by 20.5 per cent, while spending declined by more than 25 per cent.
The number of holidays to the Republic was down by 26 per cent with related-spending down 18 per cent.
Nights spent in the State were also down, with 11.7 per cent fewer nights spent than in 2008.
Overnight stays in hotels fell by 19.7 per cent over the year while guest houses and bed and breakfast nights were down 20.6 per cent.
Earnings from visitors to the Republic accounted for €3.8 billion last year, while expenditure by Irish visitors abroad totalled €6.1 billion.
