ITIC CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh said in an interview that Ireland tourism's recovery from the COVID-9 pandemic could stall in 2023 as a result of factors including:
- High rate of inflation of hotel and car hire pricing
- Easing of pent-up demand in 2022 upon relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions
- Depletion of accumulated household savings
- Labor shortages
Even with the currently high level of pent-up demand and accumulated savings, international visitation to Ireland is 30% below 2019 level so far in summer 2022. And full recovery could be delayed to 2026.
Annual inflation in Ireland jumped to 7.8% in May, the highest since 1984.
Ireland's top international source markets so far in 2022 are:
- Great Britain
- Spain
- USA
- Germany
- France
