There were 191,311 visitors to the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in May 2007, over 21,000 more visitors than in the same month of the previous year, meaning a 13% rise, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 14% in Bizkaia, 14% in Gipuzkoa and 5% in Álava in relation to the same month of the previous year.

The number of visitors from other parts of the State experienced positive variation of 11% as regards May 2006 and the number of foreign visitors grew by 18%. The evolution of both visitors from other parts of the State and foreigners was positive in all three provinces. Visitors from other parts of the State increased by 5% in Álava, 11% in Bizkaia and 12% in Gipuzkoa and the number of visitors from overseas increased by 4% in Álava, 20% in Bizkaia and 19% in Gipuzkoa.

Among visitors from other parts of the State there was a rise in those coming from Madrid, Catalonia, the Community of Valencia, Andalusia, Aragon and Asturias, among others. Numbers fell for those mainly coming from Galicia and La Rioja. Among visitors from overseas, numbers rose for those coming from Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal and Italy and fell for those from France, Ireland and Finland, chiefly.

Overnight stays registered in May 2007 came to 343,561, representing an 11% increase compared to last May, or, in other words, 33,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays was positive in all three provinces, growing 6% in Álava, 11% in Bizkaia and 13% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay decreased by two percentage points, going from 1.83 days in last May to 1.80 this May, for the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole. In Álava it grew by 1%, decreased by 3% in Bizkaia and 1% in Gipuzkoa.

The degree of occupancy by spaces underwent a 4% rise, going from 45.09% in May of last year to 46.76% this May. The degree of occupancy by rooms also rose by 4%, with both degrees of occupancy being positive for all three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country.

Agrotourism: There was an increase in the number of visitors (4%) and overnight stays (12%)

May saw 7,910 visitors in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, 4% more than in the same month of last year, increasing 28% in Álava and 3% in Gipuzkoa, but decreasing by 5% in Bizkaia. The rise in the number of national visitors was only 4% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole: they increased by 25% in Álava, 2% in Gipuzkoa and decreased by 4% in Bizkaia. The number of visitors from abroad rose by 6% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, growing in Álava (181%) and in Gipuzkoa (6%), but not so in Bizkaia where it fell (-9%).

Overnight stays in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 19,387 in May, meaning an increase of 12% as regards the same month of the previous year, with positive growth rates in the three provinces: Álava (32%), Gipuzkoa (9%) and Bizkaia (6%).

The average length of stay increased in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole compared to May 2006, going from 2.27 days to 2.45 this May.

The degree of occupancy by spaces decreased by 3% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, due to the negative impact of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, although the degree of occupancy by rooms improved by 2%, thanks to the less negative effect of the two aforementioned provinces.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT