Hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 169,718 visitor entries in May 2006, i.e., 5.000 more than in the same period the year before, which represents a 3% increase, according to Eustat data. Visitor entries increased in the provinces of Bizkaia (9%) and Álava (8%), but not in Gipuzkoa where numbers fell (-5%).

The number of state visitors did not vary at all with regard to May 2005 and the number of foreign visitors grew by 11%. State visitors increased their presence in Bizkaia (7%) and Álava (3%), but dropped in number by 9% in Gipuzkoa. The number of foreign visitors increased in all three provinces: by 27% in Álava, 15% in Bizkaia and 3% in Gipuzkoa .

Among state visitors there was an increase in numbers from Andalusia, Asturias, Castile la Mancha, Castile-León and Galicia, mainly. Numbers fell from Madrid, Catalonia, Aragón and Comunidad Valenciana, among others. Among foreign visitors numbers increased from France, Germany, Portugal, USA-Canada and South America and fell from Belgium, Italy and the UK.

Overnight stays registered in May 2006 totalled 309,937, which represents a rise of 4% on May the year before, i.e. 11,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution was positive only in Bizkaia (13%), but fell both in Alava (-6%), and in Gipuzkoa (-2%).

The length of the average stay rose from 1.81 days the previous year to 1.83 days per visitor on average last May, for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country. This index gained positions in Gipuzkoa (rising from 1.85 days in May last year to 1.92 days in May this year) and Bizkaia (where it rose from 1.77 last year to 1.83 days), while in Álava there was a drop (falling from 1.83 days the year before to 1.59 in May this year).

The level of occupancy by places registered a 5% decrease from 47.51% in May last year to 45.09% in May this year. negative This evolution affects all three provinces: Álava (-7%), Gipuzkoa (-5%) and Bizkaia (-4%). The level of occupancy by rooms also registered a 6% decrease, falling from 59.36% to 56.09% in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, this negative evolution also affecting all three provinces.

Agrotourism: Visitor entries fell (-4%) and overnight stays also dropped (-2%)

7,612 visitors were registered at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in May, 4% fewer than the same month the year before; i.e. a 20% decrease in Alava and 7% in Gipuzkoa, with an 11% increase in Bizkaia. The decrease in state visitors was 6% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, while foreign visitors staying at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country rose in number by 10%.

Overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 17,306 in May, which represents a 2% decrease with regard to the same month the year before, with negative a inter-annual evolution rate in Gipuzkoa (- 5%), and no change in the other two provinces: Álava (0.0%) and Bizkaia (0.0%).

The average stay per visitor improved on the previous level in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country with regard to May 2005, rising from 2.23 days a year before to 2.27 in May this year. This indicator gained positions in Álava (24%) and Gipuzkoa (3%), but lost ground in Bizkaia (-10%).

The level of occupancy by places registered a 14% decrease and the level of occupancy by rooms fell by 9% with regard to the position in May 2005, in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country.