Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 178,946 visitor entries in April 2006, i.e. 36,000 more entries than the same month the year before, which represents a 25% increase according to Eustat data. Visitor entries increased in all three provinces: Bizkaia (32%), Gipuzkoa (21%) and Álava (18%).

State visitors increased by 25% and the number of foreign visitors grew by 26%. State visitors also increased their presence in Bizkaia (34%), Gipuzkoa (20%)and Álava (15%). Foreign visitors also increased in number in all three provinces: in Álava by 31%, in Bizkaia 28%and in Gipuzkoa by 22%.

There was an increase in state visitors from all the autonomous communities, mainly those from Catalonia, Madrid, Castile and León, Galicia and Comunidad Valenciana. There were increases in foreign visitors from France, the UK, Italy, Portugal, USA-Canada and South America and a decrease in those from Germany, Finland, Luxembourg and Japan.

The number of overnight stays registered in April 2006 came to 338,831, which represents a 33% increase on the month of April the year before, i.e. 82,000 more overnight stays. Overnight stays underwent a positive inter-annual evolution also in the all three provinces: Bizkaia (38%), Gipuzkoa (34%) and Álava (13%).

The average length of stay rose from 1.79 days the year before to 1.89 days per average visitor this last April, for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country. This index increased in Gipuzkoa (rising from 1.79 days in April last year to 2.00 days this last month of April) and Bizkaia (where it rose from 1.81 days last year to 1.89 days), while in Álava there was a decrease (from 1.73 days the year before to 1.65 this last April).

The level of occupancy by places underwent a sharp 20% increase, rising by 42.63% in April last year to 51.27% last April. This positive evolution affected all three provinces: Gipuzkoa (31%), Bizkaia (16%) and Álava (8%). The level of occupancy by rooms also grew by10% rising from 54.35% to 59.64% in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, this positive evolution also affecting Gipuzkoa (20%) and Bizkaia (5%), while there was no variation in Álava (0.0%).

Agrotourism: Visitor entries increased by 35% and overnight stays doubled (1)

Last April 10,269 visitor entries were registered at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 35% more than the same month the previous year, increasing by 46% in Gipuzkoa, 27% in Bizkaia and 22% in Álava. Growth registered in state visitors was 36% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, while foreign visitors who stayed at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country increased by 23%.

The number of overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country was 28,023 in April, which represents a 100% increase with regard to the same month the year before, with positive inter-annual evolution rates in all three provinces: Gipuzkoa (110%), Bizkaia (94%) and Álava (82%).

The average stay per visitor improved in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country with regard to April 2005, rising from 1.85 days a year before to 2.73 this last April. This indicator has increased in all three provinces: Álava (48%), Bizkaia (53%) and Gipuzkoa (43%).

The level of occupancy by places registered a 78% increase and the level of occupancy by rooms rose by 71% with regard to the position in April 2005 and for the whole of the three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country.

(1) Note: When interpreting these data (number of visitors, overnight stays, average stay, level of occupancy etc,…) in inter-annual comparisons, it should be remembered, among other factors, that Holy Week 2005 coincided mostly with the month of March, whereas this year in 2006 the whole of the bank holidays in Holy Week took place in April.