In hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country there were 133,736 entries by visitors in September 2002, almost 10,000 more than in the same period the previous year, which represents an 8% increase, according to Eustat data. Entries by visitors increased 15% in Alava, 8% in Bizkaia and 4% in Gipuzkoa.
The number of state visitors increased 9%, which was higher growth than the rise in the number of foreign visitors (5%). State visitors increased in the three provinces, 16%, in Bizkaia, 14% in Alava and 2% in Gipuzkoa; on the other hand, the number of foreign visitors rose 17% in Alava and 9% in Gipuzkoa, while in Bizkaia there was a 4% decrease.
Among state visitors there was an increase in numbers mainly from Madrid, Andalusia, Asturias and Castilla y León, with a slight fall in numbers from Murcia, Catalonia and Galicia, among others. Among foreign visitors there was a substantial increase in visitors from France, the UK and the rest of Europe, and a fall in numbers from Germany and Italy.
Overnight stays registered in September 2002 came to 253,427, i.e. 19,000 more than in the same month the previous year, which represents an 8% increase in percentage. The number of overnight stays increased by 11% in Bizkaia, 7% in Gipuzkoa and 5% in Alava.
The length of the average stay by visitors staying at hotels in the A.C. of the Basque Country remained stable in September 2002 (1.89 days), but there were variations in the provinces, with a 3% rise in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa and an 8% fall in Alava.
The level of occupancy by places improved by 4% in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.
9% increase in the summer months, July-September in the number of entries by visitors and overnight stays with regard to the summer of 2001, this increase affecting the three provinces although to differing extents (5% in Alava, 12% in Bizkaia and 0% in Gipuzkoa in entries by visitors).
There were 6,462 entries by visitors in Agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in September 2002, 41% more than the previous year, with 66% growth in Gipuzkoa, 24% in Bizkaia and 23% in Alava. This increase originates mainly in state and foreign visitors who have registered rises of 43% and 20%, respectively, for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.
Overnight stays came to 17,438, 39% more than in September 2001, this increase affected the provinces of Gipuzkoa (72%) and Bizkaia (26%), as in Alava there was no variation at all (0%).
The average stay fell 1% for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, falling 19% in Alava and increasing in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia by 4% and 1%, respectively.
In the summber months, there were 6,000 more entries by visitors than last year, which represents a 24% increase. Overnight stays registered 18% growth in the same period.