Ireland saw 7.9 per cent growth in inbound business trips last year and 3.8 per cent growth in holiday trips, the second year of recovery for the country's economy.

Spending by visitors increased 4.5 per cent to 3.68bn euro with a particularly strong spend from North American tourists and vistors from other long-haul destinations.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said as a result the government was introducing Visa Waiver Programmes and attracting new air routes to target long haul visitors.

Varadkar said: "We are continuing to market strongly to potential holidaymakers from these areas, given that they tend to stay longer and spend more than visitors from close to home."

In the hotel sector the number of bednights grew by 13 per cent to 14,180,000, however, those staying with friends or family dropped 9.8 per cent to 13,331,000.