The number of overseas visitors to Ireland increased by 17.1% in February this year.
Ireland welcomed 403,700 visitors compared to 344,800 over the same period in 2003, with the number of British visitors up by 14.9%.
European visitor numbers rose 13.8% while North American tourist traffic rose by 25.2% from February 2003.
In total, US visitor numbers have risen by 40.2% on the February 2002 figure.
Irish residents made 346,500 overseas trips in February 2004, a 14.7% increase on the number who travelled in the same period in 2003.
The figures were released today by the Central Statistics Office.