2025 saw a 9% rise in overnight visits to Northern Ireland and a corresponding increase in visitor spending.
The latest figures are contained in NISRA’s Annual Tourism Statistics for Northern Ireland (NI) for the 2025 reference year
The key points in the statistics are:
- In 2025, there were an estimated 5.1 million overnight trips in Northern Ireland, with associated expenditure of £1.2 billion. Those who made overnight trips stayed an estimated 15.0 million nights in NI in 2025.
- Compared with the previous year, the 2025 annual tourism figures indicate a statistically significant change in the overall number of overnight trips to Northern Ireland (up 9%), with a corresponding increase in visitor spending (also up 9% increase).
- The number of nights visitors stayed in NI was broadly similar to the level observed in 2024 at 15 million (an increase of 1% from 14.9 million in 2024). Stable nights, alongside rising trips and expenditure, indicate higher average spend per night, consistent with more frequent but shorter‑duration visits.
- Visitor Profile: External visitors (all non-resident NI visitors) accounted for 66% of the total number of overnight trips with the remaining 34% taken by NI residents (the domestic tourism market). This mirrors the proportion reported in 2024.
The 5.1 million overnight trips in 2025 were made by an estimated:
- 1.8 million NI residents (34%), (domestic market) and the remaining visiting from the external market (non-NI resident) market
- 1.5 million visits from Great Britain (29%)
- 1.3 million from Republic of Ireland (26%)
- 0.6 million from ‘Outside United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI)’ (11%).
Within the tourism market, all areas (except for those travelling from outside UK and ROI) showed growth from 2024. ROI market (+15%), Great Britain market (+4%), NI market (+12%); and Outside UK and ROI (-3%).
The NI domestic tourism market also has shown promising growth in 2025, after a sharp decline of 27% in 2024. However, despite an encouraging recovery in 2025 i.e. 12% increase in overnight trips to 1.8 million), NI overnight trips have not yet returned to the 2.1 million NI resident overnight trips recorded in 2023.
Reason for visiting NI: Holiday remains the primary reason for visiting Northern Ireland accounting for 53% of all overnight stays. Those reporting a visit to NI for a ‘holiday’ increased by 13% between 2024 and 2025 (an increase from 2.4 million to 2.7 million). This increase was reported across all markets except for those travelling from ‘Outside the UK or ROI’. (ROI market +39%; NI +15%; GB +7%; Outside UK and ROI -13%).