223,769 visitor entries were registered at hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in August 2006, more than 10,000 above the same month the year before, which represents a 5% increase according to Eustat data. Visitor entries increased in the provinces of Bizkaia (9%) and Álava (9%), but fell slightly in Gipuzkoa (1%), in relation to the data for August 2005.

The number of state visitors rose by 6% and the number of foreign visitors increased by 3%. Both State and foreign visitors increased in presence in Álava (11% and 5% respectively), Bizkaia (9% and 9% respectively), while in Gipuzkoa the former remained stable (0.0%), and the latter fell (-5%).

Among state visitors there was an increase in numbers from Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia, Asturias, the Canaries and Cantabria among others, and there were decreases in numbers from the Balearics and Extremadura. Among foreign visitors, numbers rose from France, Belgium, the USA-Canada and Portugal, among others, but fell from Germany, Italy and Latin America

Overnight stays registered in August 2006 came to 515,133, which represents a 9% increase on August the year before, i.e. 44,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution was positive in all three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising by 16% in Bizkaia, 11% in Álava and 2% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay underwent a 4% increase in August 2006 for the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising from 2.21 days to 2.30 days.

The level of occupancy by places registered a slight 1% drop, and the level of occupancy by rooms remained unvaried with regard to August 2005. The level of occupancy by places fell from 73.88% to 73.40% and the level of occupancy by rooms rose from 77.63% to 77.72%. This improvement is reflected, above all, in the province of Álava.

In the summer months of June, July and August there was a 9% increase in visitor entries in the A.C. of the Basque Country with regard to the same period in 2005, which represents 51,000 entries more: Bizkaia increased by 14%, Álava rose by 10% and Gipuzkoa registered a 3% rise. Overnight stays increased over the same period by 9%, giving 110,000 overnight stays more than the year before. They increased in all three provinces. The average stay and level of occupancy remained stable over the three summer months with regard to the same period a year before.

AGROTOURISM

Visitor entries (7%) and overnight stays (15%) increased in August 2006

13,133 visitor entries were registered in August this year at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 7% more than the same month the year before, with increases of 23% in Bizkaia and 9% Álava in, but a 3% decrease in Gipuzkoa. The growth in state visitors was 4% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, while the number of foreign visitors increased in presence by 27%.

Overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 68,020 in August, which represents a 15% increase with regard to the same month the year before, with positive inter-annual evolution rates in all three provinces: Álava (27%), Bizkaia (20%), and Gipuzkoa (9%).

The average stay per visitor improved, rising from 4.81 days a year ago to 5.18 this last August.

The level of occupancy by places registered a 2% increase and the level of occupancy by rooms rose by 3% with regard to the position in August 2005.

Over the three months of June, July and August 2006 there were 9% more visitors at agrotourisms than over the same months the year before, i.e. almost 3,000 more visitors and overnight stays registered a 16% increase, having a positive effect on all three provinces in the A.C. of the Basque Country: Bizkaia (20%), Gipuzkoa (16%) and Álava (4%).