According to EUSTAT data there were 146,998 visitors to hotels establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in June 2003. This figure reflects an increase of 8% on the same month of the previous year, that is, more than 10,000 visitors than in June 2002. The number of visitors has changed differently in the three provinces. The highest inter-annual increase was in Gipuzkoa (13%), followed by Bizkaia (9%), but Alava suffered a fall of 7%.

The number of visitors from within the Spanish state to establishments in the A.C. of Euskadi increased by 12%, while the entry of foreign visitors fell by 1%. Visitors from the Spanish state increased in two provinces, albeit by different amounts: 25% in Gipuzkoa and 9% in Bizkaia, having fallen by 5% in Alava. The number of foreigners fell in two provinces: Alava (-11%) and Gipuzkoa (-4%); although not in Bizkaia which registered an increase of 9%.

Among visitors from within the Spanish state there was an increase in visitors from Cataluña, Asturias and Aragon, as well as from within the Autonomous Community itself and Navarre, but numbers from Andalusia and Madrid fell. Among foreigners there was an increase in travellers from France, Germany, Italy and Portugal, while those coming from the USA-Canada, the United Kingdom and Latin America all fell in number.

Overnight stays registered in June 2003 increased to 263,819, that is, 8,000 more than the same month last year, representing an increase of 3%. The inter-annual changes have been different in the three provinces, increasing in Bizkaia (4%) and Gipuzkoa (9%), but falling in Alava (-11%).

The average length of stay of travellers fell in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, falling from 1.87 days in June 2002 to 1.79 days last June, a fall which affected all three provinces: Alava (-5%), Bizkaia (-5%) and Gipuzkoa (-4%).

The occupancy level fell by 4% when considering all of the A.C. of the Basque Country, with the provincial breakdown revealing the following: Alava (-24%), Bizkaia (-4%) and Gipuzkoa (5%).

Farm Tourism: Increase in the number of visitors (2%) and stability in the number of overnight stays

In this month of June just passed there were 6,571 visitors to Farm Tourism or Agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 2% more than the previous year, an increase of 9% in Gipuzkoa, 4% in Alava and falling by 8% in Bizkaia. The increase in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country Euskadi is made up of visitors from within the Spanish state (3%) as the number of foreign visitors fell by 7%. The number of visitors from within the Spanish state increased in Gipuzkoa (11%) and Alava (5%) and the number of foreigners fell in all three provinces: Alava (–3%) Bizkaia (-13%) and Gipuzkoa (-4%).

The number of overnight stays in Farm Tourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country was 15,036 in June, almost the same number as June last year, with positive inter-annual growth rates in Gipuzkoa (21%), but not in Bizkaia or Alava where there was a drop of 15% in both provinces.

The average stay for travellers fell by one percentage point in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country in comparison with June last year, registering an increase of 11% in Gipuzkoa but falling in Alava (-18%) and Bizkaia (-8%).

The level of occupancy registered a 7% fall throughout the A.C. of the Basque Country, due to the drop of 25% in Alava and 20% in Bizkaia, although this was ameliorated by a 12% increase in the province of Gipuzkoa.

Table 1: Monthly Results

Source: EUSTAT