Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 174,496 entries by visitors in August 2002, 18,000 more entries than the same month the previous year, which represents a 12% increase according to Eustat data. Entries by visitors increased 18% in Bizkaia and 13% in Gipuzkoa, but fell 5% in Alava.
Entries by foreign visitors increased by 24%, well above the increase registered for State visitors (4%). The number of foreign visitors increased in all three provinces: 7% in Alava, 27% in Bizkaia and 26% in Gipuzkoa; on the other hand, State visitors increased by 11% in Bizkaia and 5% in Gipuzkoa, while in Alava there was a 10% decrease.
Among state visitors the main increases were in visitors from Madrid, Andalusia, the Community of Valencia, Asturias and Castilla and León, with a slight fall in numbers from Murcia, Cantabria and Aragón, among others. Among foreign visitors, there was an outstanding increase in numbers from Italy, France, the UK and Germany, and a slight fall in numbers from the USA-Canada.
Overnight stays registered in August 2002 came to 363,836, i.e., 43,000 more than in the same month the previous year, which represents a 13% increase in percentage. The number of overnight stays carried out increased by 21% in Bizkaia and 13% in Gipuzkoa, with no variation in Alava (0%).
The length of the average stay by visitors at hotels in the A.C. of the Basque Country increased in August 2002, rising from 2.05 days the previous year to 2.09 days in August this year. This improvement in the average stay occurred in Alava (5%) and Bizkaia (2%), and remained practically unchanged in Gipuzkoa (0%).
The level of occupancy both by places and by rooms increased by 9%, with higher growth in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa than in Alava.
13,186 entries by visitors were registered in Agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in August 2002, 19% more than the year before, with 39% growth in Gipuzkoa, 13% in Bizkaia and an 18% fall in Alava. This number is based on a 27% rise in state visitors, as the number of foreign visitors fell by 15% for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.
The number of overnight stays came to 48,303, 17% more than in August 2001, this increase affecting the three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country: Alava (14%), Gipuzkoa (21%) and Bizkaia (13%).
The average stay fell 1% for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising 39% in Alava, falling 13% in Gipuzkoa and remaining unchanged in Bizkaia (0%).
The level of occupancy by places and rooms increased 9% and 8%, respectively for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.