Northern Ireland overnight trips: friends and relatives
Northern Ireland overnight trips: friends and relatives stood at 1,747,040.61 Trips in 2025, according to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). It is one of the indicators in the Tourism (Northern Ireland) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2023 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Tourism (Northern Ireland) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight trips by purpose | ||||
| Visiting friends or relatives | 1,747,040.61 | 1,722,093.13 | 2,046,520.82 | |
| Business | 411,867.96 | 360,326.14 | 372,068.91 |
Understanding northern Ireland overnight trips: friends and relatives
This series counts overnight journeys where the primary motivation is visiting friends or relatives residing within Northern Ireland. It captures a distinct segment of the visitor economy that often relies on non-commercial accommodation, such as spare rooms or sofas, rather than hotels or guesthouses. This metric separates personal hospitality visits from commercial holidays, professional travel, and transit-related stays. The scope encompasses both domestic residents travelling within the region and visitors arriving from other areas to stay with personal contacts.
When reviewing these figures, analysts must account for holiday periods and family observances that traditionally prompt high volumes of personal travel. Early estimates are subject to subsequent data cleaning and survey adjustments before final figures are published. Year-on-year comparisons are recommended to bypass regular seasonal peaks around major family holidays. A common pitfall is assuming this category generates the same level of direct accommodation revenue as commercial holiday travel, given the prevalence of staying with hosts.
Frequently asked questions
- Does staying in a hotel while visiting family count here?
- Yes, the classification depends on the primary motivation of the trip rather than the specific type of accommodation used.
- Are local residents visiting family within the same town included?
- Only if the trip involves at least one overnight stay away from the visitor's usual place of residence.
- How does this differ from the holiday series?
- Trips motivated by social connections with residents are segregated from leisure breaks focused on sightseeing or recreation.