192,349 visitor entries were registered at hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in September 2006, more than 17,500 above the same month the year before, which represents a 10% increase according to Eustat data. Visitor entries increased in all three provinces, in Álava by 6% and Bizkaia by 12% and in Gipuzkoa the rise was 10% in relation to the data for September 2005.

The number of state visitors rose by 12% and the number of foreign visitors increased by 4%. Both State and foreign visitors increased in presence in all three provinces; in Álava by 7% and 1% respectively, in Bizkaia by 15% and 6% respectively and in Gipuzkoa by 14% for State visitors and 2% for foreign visitors.

Among state visitors there was an increase in numbers from Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencia, Asturias, Cantabria and the A.C. of the Basque Country, among others, and there were decreases in numbers from the Madrid. Among foreign visitors, numbers rose from Belgium, Portugal, the Rest of Europe and Other Countries among others, but fell from France Germany, Sweden and Finland.

Overnight stays registered in September 2006 came to 372,785, which represents an 11% increase on September the year before, i.e. 38,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution was positive in all three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising by 13% in Bizkaia, 12% in Álava and 10% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay underwent a 4% increase in September 2006 for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising from 1.91 days to 1.94 days.

The level of occupancy by places registered a slight 1% drop, and the level of occupancy by rooms fell by 3% with regard to September 2005. The level of occupancy by places fell from 55.14% to 54.37% and the level of occupancy by rooms fell from 66.75% to 65.72%. This decrease is reflected, above all, in the province of Bizkaia.

In the summer months of July, August and September there was a 9% increase in visitor entries in the A.C. of the Basque Country with regard to the same period in 2005, which represents 51,000 entries more: Bizkaia increased by 12%, Álava rose by 10% and Gipuzkoa registered a 5% rise. Overnight stays increased over the same period by 10%, giving 120,000 overnight stays more than the year before. They increased in all three provinces. The average stay increased by 1% and the level of occupancy remained stable over the three summer months with regard to the same period a year before.

AGROTOURISM

Visitor entries (12%) and overnight stays (29%) increased in September 2006

10,471 visitor entries were registered in September this year at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 12% more than the same month the year before, with increases of 36% in Bizkaia and 5% in Gipuzkoa, but a 7% decrease in Álava. The growth in state visitors was 11% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, while the number of foreign visitors increased in presence by 21%.

Overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 30,469 in September, which represents a 29% increase with regard to the same month the year before, with positive inter-annual evolution rates in all three provinces: Álava (3%), Bizkaia (49%), and Gipuzkoa (26%).

The average stay per visitor improved, rising from 2.52 days a year ago to 2.91 this last September.

The level of occupancy by places registered an 11% increase and the level of occupancy by rooms rose by 17%.

Over the three months of July, August and September 2006 there were 10% more visitors at agrotourisms than over the same months the year before, i.e. almost 3,000 more visitors and overnight stays registered an 18% increase, having a positive effect on all three provinces in the A.C. of the Basque Country: Bizkaia (26%), Gipuzkoa (17%) and Álava (6%).