The hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country registered 189,208 visitors in June 2007, more than 8,000 more than in the same month of last year, meaning a 4% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 10% in Álava and 8% in Bizkaia, but fell by 1% in Gipuzkoa with regard to the same month of the previous year.

The number of visitors from within the state experienced a positive variation of 2% in relation to June 2006 and the number of overseas visitors grew by 11%. The evolution of numbers of visitors from within the state was positive in Álava (3%) and in Bizkaia (4%), but fell in Gipuzkoa by 2%. The number of overseas visitors increased in all three provinces: 30% in Álava, 15% in Bizkaia and 1% in Gipuzkoa.

Among visitors from within the state an increase was seen for those coming from Asturias, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha and from the A.C. of the Basque Country itself, among others. There was a fall for those coming from Madrid and Andalucía especially. Among foreign visitors, those from Germany, France, Ireland and Portugal, among others, increased in number and those coming from Italy, Greece and Japan in particular, decreased.

Overnight stays registered in June 2007 came to 347,758, representing a 4% increase compared to last June, which is to say 13,000 more overnight stays. Overnight stays had a positive inter-annual pattern in Álava and Bizkaia, where they increased by 10% in both cases, whereas in Gipuzkoa there was a 4% decrease.

The average length of stay for the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole fell by one percentage point, going from 1.85 days last June to 1.84 this June. In Álava this figure remained unchanged (0%), growing by 2% in Bizkaia and decreasing by 3% in Gipuzkoa.

The degree of occupancy by places suffered a 3% decease, going from 50.34% in June last year to 48.75% this June. The degree of occupancy by room also fell by 3%, with both degrees of occupancy affecting Gipuzkoa negatively, while Álava and Bizkaia improved to differing extents.

Agrotourism: The number of visitors (7%) and overnight stays (8%) increased

There were 9,806 visitors to the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in June, 7% more than in the same month last year, increasing by 10% in Álava and 21% in Bizkaia, but decreasing by 3% in Gipuzkoa. The increase in the number of visitors from within the State was 3% in the A.C. of the Basque Country: it rose by 12% in Álava, 16% in Bizkaia and diminished by 6% in Gipuzkoa. The number of visitors from overseas increased by 40% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, decreasing in Álava (-17%) but growing in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa by 65% and 37% respectively.

The number of overnight stays in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 23,486 in June, meaning an 8% increase in relation to the same month of last year, with positive inter-annual growth rates in all three provinces: Álava (18%), Bizkaia (15%) and Gipuzkoa (2%).

The average length of stay per visitor increased in the A.C. of the Basque Country compared to June 2006, going from 2.36 days a year ago to 2.40 this June.

The degree of occupancy by places decreased by 5% in the A.C. of the Basque Country, due to the negative impact of the results in Gipuzkoa. The degree of occupancy by room fell by 3%, also as a result of the decrease seen in Gipuzkoa.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT