Tourist destinations are seeing a rise in ‘day-trippers’ due to the shortage of hotel rooms, according to a Tramore business owner.

Many people have already made their way to the beach this Bank Holiday – but it seems many are not staying overnight.

In Waterford, Tramore Amusement Park Manager Michael Garland said he has noticed the effect of accommodation shortages at the beach.  

“At the moment, we’re getting a lot of day-visitors from maximum two-and-a-half or three hours away,” he told Newstalk.  

While other summers, families would spend the day together and then make their own plans for the evening, Mr Garland said day-trippers don't spend long on the beach.

“We are seeing people leaving early so there is definitely a knock-on effect from the lack of accommodation around here.” 

Children at Tramore beach ready to surf over the Bank Holiday. Photo by Aoife Kearns for Newstalk.

Oceanics Surf School teacher Paul Tuohy said he is still busy with lessons thanks to summer camps and school trips - but has noticed fewer holidaymakers recently.  

“[People] will spend the day here, they might go surfing, they’ll go to the amusement park,” he said. “So there’s still spending but we have certainly lost the week-long stayers.” 

Despite that, thousands are still expected to make their way to Ireland’s coasts for the Bank Holiday. Over the next three days, temperatures are expected to reach highs of 24 degrees. 

Day-trippers at Tramore Beach. Photo by Aoife Kearns for Newstalk

“We’ll be here every day while we’re having it,” one woman said. “I love it, the weather.” 

“We’ll be making the most of it,” one man said. “When we have the weather, we have everything.” 

“On my sunlounger, my cigarettes next to me, and Bob’s your uncle,” another woman said.  

Reporting by Aoife Kearns