Irish Credit Card Users Spend More Abroad than Domestic Hotels in June, According to Central Bank Data.

Irish credit and debit card users spent more on hotels abroad than in Ireland in June for the first time since 2022. The total value of card payments was close to €9.5 billion, up 1.7% on May and 15% ahead of June 2024. Domestic card spending values were down 0.2% on May and 1.5% year-on-year, while spending abroad on Irish cards increased by 10.7% in value terms over May and 16.6% year-on-year.

Irish credit and debit card users spent more on hotels abroad than in Ireland in June for the first time since 2022, according to data from the Central Bank of Ireland. The total value of card payments in June was close to €9.5 billion, marking a 1.7% increase from May and a 15% surge compared to June 2024. This upward trend was driven by a significant increase in spending on hotels abroad.

Domestic card spending values decreased by 0.2% on May and 1.5% year-on-year, while spending abroad on Irish cards rose by 10.7% in value terms over May and 16.6% year-on-year. The Central Bank attributed this growth to the start of the holiday season. Expenditure on hotels, motels, and resorts, which accounted for 52% of total spending on this sector, was recorded abroad, with consumers spending an additional €35.9 million on hotels in June compared to April, nearly 80% of which was abroad.

Separately, 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 last year, highlighting the growing trend of digital payments among consumers. ATM withdrawals, however, decreased by 11% year-on-year.

This shift in consumer spending patterns underscores the evolving preferences of Irish consumers, who are increasingly opting for digital payment methods and foreign travel destinations. The data also indicates a potential boost in international tourism, which could have implications for the Irish economy.

References:
[1] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2025/08/06/irish-credit-and-debit-card-users-splurged-on-foreign-hotels-in-june/
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/a-jpmorgan-is-about-to-take-over-applea-s-credit-card-programa--ce7c5fd2de8bf423