Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have recorded a 0.7 per cent increase in visitor numbers to Ireland during the three-month period between April and June 2012.

The most recent quarter saw a 11.9 per cent growth in the number of residents from the rest of the world - mainly the long-haul and emerging markets - travelling to Ireland.

Visitor numbers from mainland Europe were up 3.8 per cent and North America returned to growth after a drop in the first quarter of 2012. However, there was a fall in British visitors.

Irish tourism minister Leo Varadkar said: "These figures show that everyone's efforts are paying off in the face of continuing economic uncertainty in most of our major overseas markets."

Click here for more information about the latest CSO tourism figures.