Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered
135,802 entries by visitors in October 2002, 6,000 more than in the same month
the previous year, which represents a 5% increase, according to Eustat data.
Entries by visitors increased 13% in Bizkaia and remained practically invariable
in Alava (+1%) and Gipuzkoa (-1%).
Entries by foreign visitors increased by 14%, much higher growth
than that registered by state visitors (1%). The number of foreign visitors
increased notably in Gipuzkoa (32%) and moderately in Alava (8%), but remained
stable in Bizkaia (0%). The number of state visitors increased substantially
in Bizkaia (20%) and fell more in Gipuzkoa (-13%) than in Alava (-2%).
Among state visitors, there was an increase in those from Madrid,
with a rise of 17%, while numbers fell slightly for visitors from Andalusia,
Aragón, Asturias and Castile and León, among others. Among foreign
visitors there was an important increase in those from France, the UK and the
USA-Canada, with a fall in visitors from Italy and Latin America.
Overnight stays registered in October 2002 came to 263,955,
i.e., 17,500 more than in the same month the previous year, which represents
a 7% increase in percentage terms. The number of overnight stays rose sharply
in Bizkaia (24%), but fell in both Alava (-7%) and Gipuzkoa (-2%).
The length of the average stay by visitors staying at hotels
in the A.C. of the Basque Country increased by 2% in October 2002, rising from
1.90 days the previous year to 1.94 last October.
The level of occupancy by places improved by 2% for the whole
of the A.C. of the Basque Country and the level of occupancy by rooms rose 1%.
Over the first 10 months of the year there was an increase
of over 100,000 entries by visitors and almost 200,000 overnight stays more
than in the same period in 2001.
6,072 entries by visitors were registered at Agrotourism establishments
in the A.C. of the Basque Country in October 2002, 14% more than the previous
year, rising by 18% in Bizkaia, 17% in Gipuzkoa and falling 1% in Alava. The
increase registered for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country is based
on state and foreign visitors who increased in numbers by 9% and 72%, respectively.
The number of overnight stays came to 12,985, 12% more than
in October 2001, this increase affecting the provinces of Bizkaia (21%) and
Gipuzkoa (14%), as in the province of Alava there was a 10% decrease.
The average stay fell 2% for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque
Country, decreasing 9% in Alava and 3% in Gipuzkoa and rising 2% in Bizkaia.
Over the first ten months of the year there were 9,500 entries
by visitors and 26,000 overnight stays more than in the same period in 2001.