188,217 visitor entries were registered at hotel establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country in October 2006, almost 20,000 above the same month the year before, which represents a 12% increase according to Eustat data. Visitor entries increased in all three provinces, in Álava by 13% and Bizkaia by 20% and in Gipuzkoa the rise was 2% in relation to the data for October 2005.

The number of state visitors rose by 11% and the number of foreign visitors increased by 13%. State visitors increased in presence in all three provinces; in Álava by 13%, in Bizkaia by 17%, and in Gipuzkoa by 4%. Foreign visitors increased in Álava (10%) and Bizkaia (31%), but fell by 3% in Gipuzkoa.

Among state visitors there was an increase in numbers from Cantabria, Catalonia, Andalusia, Aragón and Asturias, among others, and a drop in numbers from La Rioja, Castile-La Mancha and Comunidad Valenciana. Among foreigners numbers rose from France, Holland, USA-Canada, Portugal and Latin America, among others, while numbers fell from Germany, Italy and Belgium.

Overnight stays registered in October 2006 came to 366,315, which represents a 16% increase on the month of October the previous year, i.e. almost 50,000 more overnight stays. Overnight stays have had a positive inter-annual evolution in all three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, rising by 24% in Bizkaia, 10% in Álava and 9% in Gipuzkoa.

The length of the average stay increased by 4% in October 2006 for the whole of the

A.C. of the Basque Country, rising from 1.88 days to 1.95 days.

The level of occupancy by places registered a 4% increase and the level of occupancy by rooms also rose by 2% with regard to October 2005. The level of occupancy by places rose from 49.86% to 51.91% and the level of occupancy by rooms increased from 61.94% to 63.24%. This gain was reflected to a greater extent in the province of Bizkaia.

AGROTOURISM

Visitor entries fell (-1%) and overnight stays increased (13%) in October 2006

8.898 visitor entries to agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country were registered in the last month of October, 1% less than in the same month the previous year, rising by 2% in Bizkaia, but decreasing by 3% in Gipuzkoa and 1% in Álava. The increase experienced by state visitors was 2% in the A.C. of the Basque Country and the number of foreign visitors decreased by 30%.

Overnight stays at agrotourism establishments in the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 23,820 in October 2006, which represents a 13% increase with regard to the same month the previous year, with positive inter-annual growth in all three provinces: Álava (8%), Bizkaia (25%) and Gipuzkoa (7%).

The average stay per visitor rose from 2.35 days last year to 2.68 in October this year.

The level of occupancy by places remained unchanged from last year and the level of occupancy by rooms improved by 7%.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT