Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 94,206 visitors in January 2004, almost 12,000 more than in the same month of last year, giving an increase of 14%, according to Eustat data. Numbers of visitors increased significantly in all three provinces: the highest rate of inter-annual growth occurred in Alava (21%), followed by Bizkaia (17%), with Gipuzkoa in third place (9%).

Numbers of visitors from within the state grew by 14%, while the figure for foreign visitors was one percent higher, at 15%. Visitors from the state grew in number in Alava (24%), Bizkaia (12%) and Gipuzkoa (12%). The distribution of foreign visitors as regards provinces was uneven: there was a sharp increase in Bizkaia (33%), a more modest rise in Alava (8%) and their numbers fell in Gipuzkoa (-1%).

Among visitors from the state, an increase was registered in those coming from the majority of the Autonomous Communities, especially the ones coming from Catalonia, Galicia, Andalucía, Asturias, Cantabria and Navarre. As for foreigners, there was an increase in those coming from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, USA- Canada and Portugal, while the number of visitors from France remained virtually unchanged.

Overnight stays registered in January 2004 came to 165,231, representing a 13% increase in relation to January of last year, or in other words, almost 20,000 more overnight stays. Inter-annual evolution in overnight stays was positive throughout the three provinces, with a sharp increase of 33% in Alava, and more modest growth of 12% and 7% in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa respectively.

The length of the average stay in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole went down from 1.77 days last year to 1.75 in January 2004. This was due to the decrease in this index registered in Bizkaia (-4%) and Gipuzkoa (-2%), even though Alava made a significant improvement on its previous position (10%).

The degree of occupancy by places improved by 7%, going from 28.79% in January last year to 30.68% this January. In this respect, there was a significant improvement in Alava (34%), a much more modest rise in Gipuzkoa (4%), while evolution of this variable remained stable in Bizkaia (0%).

Agrotourism: A rise in the number of visitors (18%) and overnight stays (35%)

In January, 3,728 visitors were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, 18% more than in the same month last year, growing 45% in Alava and 57% in Gipuzkoa, but not in Bizkaia, which suffered a 22% reduction. The growth in numbers of visitors from the state was 17% in the A.C. of the Basque Country: Alava (38%), Gipuzkoa (59%) and Bizkaia (-24%). Numbers of foreigners grew 47% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, and the evolution was positive throughout the three provinces.

Overnight stays in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 8,915 for January, making a 35% increase compared to the same month last year, and inter-annual growth rates were highly positive in Alava (90%) and Gipuzkoa (66%), although evolution was negative in Bizkaia (-7%).

The average stay per visitor registered an improvement of fourteen percent in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole in relation to January 2003, going from 2.10 days a year ago to 2.39 this January, a positive evolution that was repeated in all three provinces.

The degree of occupancy by places showed a dramatic increase of 20%, as a result of the rise experienced in Alava (57%) and Gipuzkoa (47%), although Bizkaia had a negative impact in this area (-15%).