Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered
91,613 guests in February 2003, 1,500 fewer entries than the same month the
previous year, which represents a 2% fall according to EUSTAT data. Entries
by visitors increased 6% in Bizkaia and fell in Alava and Gipuzkoa by 7% and
6%, respectively.
The number of State visitors increased 3% in the whole of the
A.C. of the Basque Country, while the number of foreign visitors has fallen
by 15%. State visitors increased substantially in Bizkaia (15%) and fell both
in Alava (-6%) and Gipuzkoa (-5%). The number of foreign visitors fell in all
three provinces: Alava (-17%), Bizkaia (-16%) and Gipuzkoa (-11%).
Among State visitors, there was an increase in visitors from
Madrid, Valencia, Castile and León and the A.C. of the Basque Country
itself, and a drop in numbers from Andalusia, Catalonia and Galicia, among others.
Among foreign visitors, the most significant decreases in the number of visitors
were from France, the UK, Portugal, Italy and Germany.
The number of overnight stays registered in February 2003 came
to 161,390, i.e. almost 4,000 fewer than the same month the year before, which
represents a 2% drop in percentage terms. The number of overnight stays increased
by 3% in Bizkaia, but fell in Alava and Gipuzkoa, by 8% and 5% respectively.
The length of the average stay by visitors fell from 1.77 days
in February the year before to 1.76 last February, and this decrease affected
the provinces of Alava (-1%) and Bizkaia (-3%), while Gipuzkoa improved its
position by 2%. The level of occupancy by places fell from 36.9% in February
2002 to 33.3% in February this year, while the level of occupancy by rooms showed
a 5% improvement in the same period.
4,612 entries by visitors were registered in agrotourism establishments
in the A.C. of the Basque Country in Febrary 2003, 9% more than the same month
the previous year, increasing 12% in Gipuzkoa, 10% in Bizkaia and 3% in Alava.
The growth registered in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country stems both
from foreign (39%) and State visitors (8%).
The number of overnight stays carried out in the Agrotourism
sector came to 8,808, 4% fewer than in February 2002, this decrease affecting
the provinces of Alava (-24%) and Bizkaia (-7%), as in the province of Gipuzkoa
there was a 7% increase.
The average stay per visitor fell from 2.17 days in February
last year to 1.91 registered in February this year, which represents a 12% decrease.
In this sense, the level of occupancy fell by 14% and 13 %, by places or by
rooms.