75% of Irish adults say tourism has negative impacts on their local area

Seán McCárthaigh

The vast majority of people living in Ireland regard tourism as “a force for good,” although three-quarters of them claim they have also felt negative impacts from local tourism activity.

New research commissioned by Fáilte Ireland shows public sentiment towards tourism remains strong, with 9 in 10 residents believing tourism is good for the country.

However, 76 per cent also said they had experienced some negative impacts from tourism in their own area – up two percentage points from a similar study in 2024.

The “Residents’ Attitudes Towards Tourism” report surveyed the views of over 3,800 adults living in the Republic last year.

It found that 32 per cent claimed tourists contributed to more litter and waste, with 29 per cent believing their journey times took longer because tourists added to traffic congestion.

According to the survey, 26 per cent also felt tourists were partially responsible for why they had greater difficulty in finding parking spaces, while 24 per cent linked higher daily living costs to tourism activity.

It also showed that 18 per cent believed tourists contributed to the problem of noise pollution, while 13 per cent felt the presence of tourists led to a reduced sense of personal safety.

Almost half of the respondents (47 per cent) said not enough action was being taken to address such issues.

At the same time, not all impacts were experienced equally as younger adults are more likely to think that tourists put pressure on both Ireland and their local area than older age groups.

Overall, a quarter of respondents claimed overseas tourists are putting too much pressure on their own area. One in five adults also have similar perceptions about the impact of domestic holidaymakers.

The report showed that Irish adults overwhelmingly acknowledge the positive impact that tourism has on the economy, Irish culture and heritage as well as on the broader social well-being of communities.

The survey highlighted that 88 per cent of people say they have personally benefited from tourism activity, mostly through employment opportunities and support for local businesses.

Other positive aspects of tourism cited by respondents included opportunities to participate in festivals and cultural events, a greater appreciation of natural and built environments and increased exposure to different cultures.

However, attitudes towards the environmental impact of tourism are more subdued, with only 55 per cent believing it has a positive effect on Ireland’s natural environment, while 13 per cent regard it as harmful.

Six out of 10 Irish people said they would like to be involved in local tourism development, with interest strongest among 18-29 year olds.

Areas of focus for tourism recommended by the survey were improvements to infrastructure, more local employment and more off-peak season tourism.

Fáilte Ireland said the findings underlined the need to balance tourism growth with community wellbeing.

“Sustainable tourism relies on natural and public resources, shared infrastructure as well as communities’ positive predisposition to welcoming tourists in their area,” said Fáilte Ireland.

It added: “As tourism grows, it is important to engage with host communities about development plans and understand how tourism can benefit the local community, ensuring the destination is managed for local needs, before those of tourists.”