According to Eustat data 213,627 visitor entries were registered in hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country during the month of July 2006, i.e. almost 23,000 more entries than during the same month of the previous year, representing an increase of 12%. Visitor entries increased in all three provinces in the A.C. of the Basque Country: Alava (17%), Bizkaia (16%) and Gipuzkoa (7%).

Entries from visitors from other parts of the Spanish state increased by 13% on July 2005 while the number of foreign visitors increased by 10%. The number of visitors from other parts of the Spanish state increased in Alava (21%), in Gipuzkoa (14%) and in Bizkaia (9%). The number of foreign visitors increased in the provinces of Bizkaia (28%) and in Alava (6%), but fell in Gipuzkoa (-6%).

Among Spanish visitors there was an increase from almost every Autonomous Community, particularly from Madrid, Castilla-Leon, Andalucía, Cantabria and Asturias. A fall in visitors was only registered in those coming from the provinces of Extremadura and Murcia. Among foreign visitors, the numbers coming from France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal, USA-Canada and Latin America all rose, and there were fewer visitors registered coming from Finland, Ireland and Sweden among others.

The number of registered overnight stays in July 2006 rose to 412,668, representing an increase of 10% on July of the previous year, that is, 39,000 more overnight stays. The number of overnight stays has increased in all three provinces: Bizkaia (15%), Alava (8%) and Gipuzkoa (7%).

The average length of stay in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole underwent a decrease of 2%, from 1.96 days last July to 1.93 days for the average traveller in July 2006. This statistic only increased in Gipuzkoa (rising from 2.14 days in July last year to 2.16 days in July this year). In the case of Bizkaia there was a moderate fall (from 1.82 to 1.81 days) and in Alava the decrease is more noticeable (dropping from 1.82 days in July 2005 to 1.68 days in the same month of 2006).

Occupancy levels for both places and rooms registered an increase of one percentage point, increasing from 59.24% in July last year to 59.84% this July and from 66.40% to 66.80%, respectively. This increase in place occupancy is reflected in both Alava (5%) and Gipuzkoa (4%). However, in Bizkaia there is a two point fall in the level of place occupancy. The level of occupancy for rooms fell in Bizkaia (-3%) and in Alava (-1%), but increased in Gipuzkoa (6%).

Rural guest house and Farmhouse accommodation (Agrotourism): Visitor entries increase (13%) as do overnight stays (17%)

13,484 visitor entries were registered at agrotoursim establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in July 2006, 13% more than the corresponding month last year; specifically there were increases of 23% in Bizkaia and 14% in Gipuzkoa, while there was a 12% fall in Alava. The increase in visitors form other parts of the Spanish state was 15% for the Basque Autonomous Community, whilst the number of foreign visitors staying in rural guesthouses or farmhouse accommodation registered a moderate increase (1.0%) between July 2005 and the same month of 2006.

The number of overnight stays in these establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country was 46,307 in July, representing an increase of 17% on the same month of the previous year, with positive inter-annual growth figures in Bizkaia (24%) and Gipuzkoa (22%), while this indicator reflected a fall of 22% in Alava.

The average stay per traveller has increased throughout the Basque Autonomous Community with respect to July 2005, rising from 3.30 days from one year ago to 3.43 in July 2006. This indicator reflected increases in the provinces of Gipuzkoa (7%) and Bizkaia (1%), while in Alava it fell by 11%.

In the A.C. of the Basque Country the level of occupancy according to number of available places registered an increase of 6% and the level of occupancy per room registered an increase of 10% on July 2005.