While I acknowledge the Deputy’s observations on revenue, CSO statistics point to a more positive overall picture. Tourism revenue in 2025 remained strong, although slightly below the exceptionally high levels reached in 2024 and marginally ahead of 2023 levels.
Encouragingly, the latest CSO data shows a continued recovery in overseas visitor numbers and expenditure towards the end of the year. December 2025 recorded 524,100 foreign visitors, an increase of 34% on the previous year, generating 4.8 million bed nights and €427 million excluding fares, indicating a solid rebound in activity late in the year. This marked the fifth consecutive month of visitor growth compared with 2024, an encouraging development following the slower start to the year.
I recognise that the tourism sector continues to face challenges, including competitiveness pressures, macro-economic uncertainty and the need to strengthen connectivity. As Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I am focused on ensuring that recent momentum is sustained. Addressing these challenges, while supporting long-term resilience and productivity is a key priority for my Department and aligns closely with the wider enterprise and employment agenda.
In December 2025, my Department published the National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism. This five-year strategy provides a clear framework to guide the sustainable development of tourism to 2031. It aims to increase overseas tourism revenue by 50%, grow domestic tourism revenue to €5.8 billion, achieve total tourism revenue of €14.8 billion, and support employment of at least 250,000 people across the sector.
A total of €400 million in funding is being provided to boost tourism competitiveness, growth and market diversification, including €77 million for overseas marketing to target new markets and €200 million for product development to enhance visitor experiences and regional tourism infrastructure. Investments under the Sectoral Capital Plan over the next 5 years will support the continued growth in visitor numbers while delivering on Programme for Government commitments to balance regional development across all regions of our country.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) provide consultancy and grants to small businesses across all sectors, including tourism businesses, in the areas of Green, Digital and LEAN. Supports such as LEAN for Business, Digital for Business and Green for Business programmes as well as the Energy Efficiency Grants assist businesses to implement recommendations to digitalise and decarbonise operations enhance productivity and competitiveness, and help business owners identify opportunities to save time, money, and energy.
My Department has commenced work to establish a Tourism Policy Oversight Group to guide the implementation of the policy, supported by enhanced data and strengthened collaboration across Government and industry. Fáilte reland and Tourism Ireland will align their corporate plans with the Policy and will play central roles in delivery through destination development, enterprise supports, marketing, and digital and sustainability initiatives.
The Government has already taken concrete steps to support the tourism sector, including the reduction in the VAT rate on food and catering services to 9% from July 2026, and measures to strengthen air access and connectivity.
