Foreign hotels experienced a surge in spending from Irish credit and debit card users in June
In the month of June 2023, Irish households spent a total of €357.1 million on accommodation services, marking an 11.11% increase from May and a 11.7% rise compared to the same month the previous year. This upward trend was particularly noticeable in the hotel sector, with consumers spending an additional €35.9 million on hotels compared to April.
Interestingly, approximately 52% of the total spending on hotels in June 2023 was recorded outside of Ireland. This trend continued as the Central Bank announced that Irish credit and debit card users spent more on hotels abroad than in Ireland for the first time since 2022.
The increase in foreign hotel spending by Irish card users, however, is a detail that is not explicitly stated in the current search results. It's worth noting that factors such as foreign transaction fees or currency conversion fees, travel-related perks, and cashback offers on credit cards could influence spending behavior when using cards abroad.
Despite the rise in foreign spending, domestic card spending values decreased by 0.2% or €16.09 million compared to May, and were down 1.5% in terms of volume.
The total value of card payments in June 2023 was approximately €9.5 billion, up 1.7% compared to May and more than 15% ahead of June 2024. The surge in spending was not limited to hotels, as spending abroad on Irish cards increased by 10.7% in value terms compared to May and 16.6% year-on-year, due to the beginning of the holiday season.
Ciaran Coyle, group chief operating officer at Bank of Ireland, commented on the shift towards digital payments, stating that consumers are increasingly engaging with digital options due to their ease and flexibility. The Bank of Ireland reported a 2% increase in contactless card payment transactions through digital wallets like Apple and Google Pay in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
However, so-called tap-and-go payment volumes remained unchanged in the unspecified time period. Meanwhile, ATM withdrawals decreased by 11% year-on-year in the same period.
As we look forward, official reports from Irish central banks, payment processors, or tourism authorities issued after June 2025 would be the most authoritative sources to consult for specific financial transaction statistics, including precise quantitative figures on the increase in foreign hotel spending by Irish card users in June 2025 versus domestic spending.
- The Central Bank's announcement revealed that Irish credit and debit card users spent more on hotels abroad than in Ireland for the first time since 2022, reflecting a shift in lifestyle and business spending towards travel.
- The surge in spending abroad on Irish cards during June 2023, including hotels, was due in part to the beginning of the holiday season, indicating a trend of increased spending on leisure and travel-related activities as part of a wider lifestyle change.
