143,468 entries by visitors were registered in May 2002 in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, approximately 21,000 entries more than in the same month the year before, which represents a 17% increase according to data provided by the Eustat. The number of visitors increased in the three provinces, although disparately. There was a 6% increase in Alava, 13% in Bizkaia and 27% in Gipuzkoa.
Entries by state visitors increased 17%, practically the same increase as for foreign visitors (18%). State visitors increased in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa (16% and 27%, respectively) and remained practically stable in Alava; on the other hand, foreign visitors increased by 26% both in Alava and in Gipuzkoa, while in Bizkaia there was a more moderate increase of 7%.
Among state visitors there were increases for all the autonomous communities, especially in visitors from Madrid and Valencia, as well as from the A.C. of the Basque Country itself. Among foreign visitors there was a significant increase in visitors from France, and an important fall in the number of visitors from the USA-Canada.
Overnight stays registered in May 2002 came to 255,660, i.e. almost 20,000 more than the same month the year before, which represents an 8% increase in percentage terms. The number of overnight stays increased by 3% in Bizkaia, 6% in Alava and 15% in Gipuzkoa.
The length of the average stay by visitors staying at hotels in the A.C. of the Basque Country fell in May 2002, dropping from 1.93 days last year to 1.78 this. The average stay fell more sharply in Gipuzkoa (-10%) and Bizkaia (-8%) than in Alava (-1%).
The level of occupancy by places rose 2% for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, as a result of the 18% increase registered in Gipuzkoa, while in Bizkaia it decreased 2% and in Alava the level of occupancy was the same as the previous year. The level of occupancy by rooms fell 3% for the A.C. of the Basque Country due to the falls in Alava and Bizkaia (-7% and -8%, respectively), while in Gipuzkoa occupancy by rooms improved 6% during May 2002 with regard to the same month the previous year.
5,732 entries by visitors were registered in Agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in May 2002, 30% more than the year before, rising 44% in Bizkaia, 36% in Gipuzkoa and remaining practically stable in Alava.
Overnight stays came to 12,787, 40% more than in May 2001, affecting the three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, especially Gipuzkoa where the increase in overnight stays was 73% with regard to May 2001.
The average stay grew 7% for the whole of the A.C. of Euskadi, although the provinces performed differently, as the average stay increased in Gipuzkoa (28%) and Alava (15%) and fell in Bizkaia (-14%) with regard to the same month the year before.