There were 159,094 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in April 2008; more than 25,500 fewer visitors than in the same month of last year resulting in a 14% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors fell by 15% in Álava, 14% in Bizkaia and 13% in Gipuzkoa, compared with the same month of 2007.

With respect to April of 2007, the number of visitors from within the state fell by 18% and the number of overseas visitor fell by 4%. In the three provinces, visitors from within the state decreased by 22% in Gipuzkoa, by 15% in Bizkaia and by 14% in Álava. Overseas visitors increased by 12% in Gipuzkoa but decreased in Álava (-19%) and Bizkaia (-12%).

Registered overnight stays in April 2008 rose to 285,405 representing a 19% decline from April of 2007 or 67,000 fewer overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays was negative in the three provinces; it went down in Álava by 20% and in both Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia numbers fell by 19%.

Throughout the A.C of the Basque Country the average length of stay went down 6%: from 1.91 days in April of the previous year to 1.79 days this past April. In Álava it dropped by 6%, in Bizkaia by 5% and in Gipuzkoa by 7%.

The degree of occupancy by place went down from 49.64% in April of last year to 41.38% this April. The decline affected all three provinces. This past April Álava was below the average with a decline of 18% (35.87%) while Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa registered a similar degree of occupancy rate of 42.39% and 42.25% respectively.

It is important to note the affect of Holy Week on this analysis. In 2007 Holy Week was in April while this year it fell in March. To ensure homogenous results, data from the first four months of the year are used to compare this year with the same period of last year.

There were 581,662 visitors to hotel establishments in the A.C of the Basque Country during the first four months of the year, which is not a significant variation from the same period of 2007. Overnight stays during this first quarter rose to 1,061,911; which is practically the same as the previous year. The average length of stay as well as the degree of occupancy remained practically the same as in 2007: average length of stay was 1.83 days and the degree of occupancy was at 40%.

Table 1. Results from the first quarter of 2008 in the A.C. of the Basque Country.

Agrotourism: The number of visitors fell by 24% and overnight stays by 48%

There were 8,171 visitors registered this past April in agrotourism establishments of the A.C of the Basque Country; 24% fewer than the same month of last year, declining by 28% in Bizkaia, 27% in Gipuzkoa and by 9% in Álava. There was a 26% decline in visitors from within the state to A.C of the Basque Country: falling by 12% in Gipuzkoa, by 29% in Bizkaia and by 28% in Álava. The number of overseas visitors dropped by 3% throughout the A.C of the Basque Country; declining in Gipuzkoa (-8%) and Bizkaia (-13%) and increasing in Álava (33%).

There were 17,765 overnight stays in agrotourism establishments in the A.C of the Basque Country in April meaning a 48% decline when compared with the same month of the previous year. There were negative inter-annual rates in Bizkaia (-51%), Gipuzkoa (-49%) and Álava (-37%).

The average length of stay per visitor dropped with respect to April 2007, going from 3.15 days a year ago to 2.17 days this past April.

The grade of occupancy by place fell from 48.06% to 18.06% as a result of the decline of visitors in the three provinces: Álava was at 19.67%, Bizkaia fell to 18.25% and Gipuzkoa was recorded at 20.68%.

There were 28,753 visitors to agrotourism establishments in the A.C of the Basque Country during the first 4 months of 2008, meaning a 1% decline with respect to data from the first quarter of 2007.

There were 72,546 overnight stay in the period from January to April of 2008 resulting in a 6% decline from the same period of the last year.

Table 2: Monthly Results