October 2007 saw 181,180 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, 7,000 less visitors than those registered in the same month of last year, meaning a 4% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors diminished by 14% in Álava; fell by 4% in Gipuzkoa and remained unchanged in Bizkaia (0%), in relation to figures from October 2006.

The number of visitors from within the state decreased by 9%, while the number of visitors coming from overseas increased by10%. Visitors from within the state diminished in number in all three provinces: in Álava by 20%, in Bizkaia by 6% and in Gipuzkoa by 8%. The number of visitors from overseas, on the other hand, increased in all three provinces: in Álava by 11%, in Bizkaia 16% and in Gipuzkoa 4%.

Among visitors from within the state there was an increase for those coming from Asturias, La Rioja, Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha, and a fall for those coming from Catalonia, Madrid and Cantabria, among others. Among foreigners there was a rise for those coming from Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, among others, and a fall for those from Belgium and Sweden.

Overnight stays registered in October 2007 came to 338,528, meaning an 8% decrease compared to October of last year, which is to say almost 28,000 overnight stays less. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays was negative in all three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, decreasing by 17% in Álava, 7% in Bizkaia and 5% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay suffered a 4% fall in October 2007 for the A.C. of the Basque Country, as a whole, going from 1.95 days to 1.87 days.

The degree of occupancy by place registered a 9% fall and the degree of occupancy by room also decreased by 7% with regard to October 2006. The degree of occupancy by place fell from 51.91% to 47.08% and the degree of occupancy by room went from 63.24% to 59.01%. This fall was seen across all three provinces.

AGROTOURISM

The number of visitors increased (6%) and overnight stays decreased (-6%) in October 2007

9,419 visitors were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in October, 6% more than in the same month of last year, growing by 16% in Álava, 5% in Bizkaia and 3% in Gipuzkoa. A 4% increase was recorded among visitors from within the state in the A.C. of the Basque Country and those coming from overseas increased in number by 35%.

22,379 overnight stays were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in October 2007, meaning a 6% decrease as regards the same month of last year, with a positive inter-annual growth rate in Álava (13%), but a decrease in Bizkaia (-18%) and Gipuzkoa (-4%).

The average stay per visitor suffered a decrease, going from 2.68 days last year to 2.38 this October.

The degree of occupancy by place decreased by 13% and the degree of occupancy by room worsened by 15%.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT