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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Alamy Stock Photo economic driver Golf tourists a major boost to Ireland's economy - spending three times more than the average Golf tourism brings in an estimated €300m annually to the Irish economy. 6.01am, 30 Jun 2025 Share options GOLF TOURISTS AND golf tourism is a major driver of growth for the Irish economy, AIB has said, with over 220,000 people visiting Ireland for the purpose annually – and spending an average of three times that of the non-golfing tourist. AIB has today published its Coach and Golf Tourism Outlook, which highlights the economic contribution of coach operators and golf tourism in Ireland. Golf tourism brings in an estimated €300m annually to the Irish economy, according to Fáilte Ireland. The 220,000 visitors have over 400 courses to choose from, it noted, as well as numerous high profile events on the horizon destined to bring in additional visitors. Advertisement The AIB report linked golf and coach tourism, as golf tourists from the US tend to favour “extended trips and premium accommodation, often relying on coach access and pre-arranged group tours”, it noted. The standard ‘golf tourist’ spends around three times that of the ‘leisure tourist’ on average, the report stated, citing Fáilte Ireland. Most of the spend is funnelled into local economies on non-golf related expenditure, such as accommodation, food, and beverages. Coach tourism was also reported to be on the up, with coach and bus registrations increasing by 70% in 2024. AIB said that the sector was still catching up on the slowdown caused by the pandemic and there were constraints on supply. It said that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor for coach operators “looking to futureproof their fleet”. In the final quarter of last year, electric buses outsold diesel for the first time across Europe. Coach operators in Ireland are currently working towards alternatively powered vehicles and those with less emissions. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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