Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 142,938 entries by visitors in April 2005, over 5,000 more than the same month the year before, which represents a 4% increase, according to Eustat data. Visitor entries registered a positive evolution in the provinces of Bizkaia (10%) and Gipuzkoa (3%), but not so in Alava, where there was a 7% turndown in relation to the same month the year before. When interpreting these monthly data and making inter-annual comparisons, we must take into consideration that Holy Week 2005 fell in March, while in 2004 it was in April. Thus, if we compare both the months of March and April this year with the same period in 2004 to eliminate the Holy Week effect, visitor entries increased by 7% and overnight stays rose by 8%, in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.

The number of state visitors grew 6% in April 2005, while the number of foreign visitors fell by 1%.

Among state visitors there was an increase in most Autonomous Communities, with the exception of Catalonia and Galicia. There was a rise in numbers from Madrid, Andalusia, Aragón, Asturias, Community of Valencia and Castile la Mancha, to quote the most significant movements. Among foreign visitors, there was an increase in numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Ireland among others, and a drop in numbers from the UK, Portugal, USA-Canada and Belgium, mainly.

Overnight stays registered in April 2005 came to 255,532, which represented a 1% decrease on April the year before, i.e. almost 2,000 overnight stays less. Overnight stays only registered a positive inter-annual evolution in Bizkaia (1%), falling both in Gipuzkoa (-1%), and in Alava (-4%).

The length of the average stay fell from 1.87 days the year before to 1.79 in April this year for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, and this reduction extends to Bizkaia (fall from 1.96 to 1.81) and Gipuzkoa (fall from 1.87 to 1.79). Nevertheless, the average stay improved in Alava, rising from 1.67 days the year before to 1.73 in April this year.

The level of occupancy by places decreased by 2%, dropping from 43.66% in April last year to 42.63% in April this year. On the other hand, the level of occupancy by rooms grew by 4%, increasing from 52.23% last year to 54.35% this year for the whole of the three provinces.

Agrotourism: Increase in visitor entries (4%) and drop in overnight stays (-36%)

7,585 visitor entries were registered last April in agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 4% more than in the same month the year before, rising 22% in Bizkaia, but falling 2% in Gipuzkoa and 4% in Alava. State visitors increased by 6% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, while the number of foreign visitors fell by 10%, in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.

Overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 14,033 in April, which represents a considerable decrease of 36% with regard to the same month the year before, with important inter-annual decreases in the three provinces: a 38% fall in Gipuzkoa, 36% in Bizkaia and 31% in Alava.

The average stay per visitor fell in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country in relation to April 2004, dropping from 3.03 days a year before to 1.85 in April this year, the inter-annual decrease affecting all three provinces.

The level of occupancy by places registered a 40% decrease and the level o occupancy by rooms dropped by 37%. The fall in both rates affected all three provinces in the A.C. of the Basque Country.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT