138,884 entries by visitors were registered in hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country en mayo de 2003, according to Eustat data. These figures reflect a 3% decrease in relation to the same month the year before, i.e. almost 5,000 fewer visitors than in May 2002. Entries by visitors have evolved differently in the three provinces. The highest inter-annual decreases occurred in Gipuzkoa and Alava, 5% in provinces, but there was no variation whatsoever in Bizkaia (0%).

Entries by state visitors represented 3% growth in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, while entries by foreign visitors fell by 15%. The number of State visitors increased in the three provinces, although to varying degrees: 5% in Bizkaia and 2% in Alava and Gipuzkoa. The number of foreign visitors fell in all three: Alava (-22%), Gipuzkoa (-17%) and Bizkaia (-11%).

There was an increase in state visitors from the A.C. of the Basque Country, the Communities of the Balearics and Castile and León, while numbers fell from the Valencia and Aragón Communities. Among foreigners, there were reductions in the number of visitors from France USA-Canada, Holand and Latin America.

The number of overnight stays registered in May 2003 came to 252,819, i.e. almost 3,000 fewer than the same month the year before, which represents a 1% decrease. Overnight stays evolved differently in the inter-annual period in the three provinces, rising in Bizkaia (4%) and falling in Gipuzkoa (-5%) and Alava (-4%).

The length of the average stay of visitors improved in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising from 1.78 days in May 2002 to 1.82 days last May, an increase that affects all three provinces: Alava (1%), Gipuzkoa (1%) and Bizkaia (4%).

The level of occupancy by places fell 8% in all the A.C. of the Basque Country, the effect on provinces being as follows: Alava (-19%), Gipuzkoa (-9%) and Bizkaia (-3%).

Agrotourism: Increase in number of visitors (8%) and overnight stays (14%).

6,202 entries by visitors were registered in May at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 8% more than the same month the year before, rising 17% in Gipuzkoa, 2% in Bizkaia and 1% in Alava. The increase experienced in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country is due to both state visitors (6%) and foreign visitors who increased their presence by 29%. State visitors increased in number in Gipuzkoa (12%) and Alava (6%) while foreign visitors increased in Gipuzkoa (63%) and Bizkaia (28%); but fell in number in Alava (-35%).

The number of overnight stays carried out at Basque agrotourism establishments was 14,633 in May, 14% more than in May 2002, with positive inter-annual growth rates in the three provinces: Gipuzkoa (26%), Bizkaia (6%) and Alava (3%).

The average stay per visitor improved 6 percent in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, with 8% growth in Gipuzkoa, 4% in Bizkaia and 2% in Alava.

The level of occupancy registered a 3% increase in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, due to sharp growth in Gipuzkoa (13%), compared with drops in Alava (-9) and Bizkaia (-3%).