September 2007 saw 193,779 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, over 1,400 more visitors than those recorded in the same month of the previous year, meaning a 1% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased in Bizkaia (3%), but in Álava and Gipuzkoa diminished by 1% in both cases, in relation to the September 2006 figures.

The number of visitors from within the state fell by 8%, while the number of visitors from abroad increased by 21%. Visitors from within the state reduced in number in all three provinces: in Álava 21%, in Bizkaia 2% and in Gipuzkoa 10%. Visitors from abroad, however, increased in number in the three provinces: 61% in Álava, 13% in Bizkaia and 18% in Gipuzkoa.

Among visitors from within the state there was an increase for those coming from Madrid, Galicia, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, among others, and a decrease for those coming chiefly from Catalonia, Andalucía and the Community of Valencia. Among foreigners, there was a rise in those coming from Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom, among others, with a fall among those from Greece and Luxembourg.

The number of overnight stays registered in September 2007 came to 374,177, a figure that was only slightly higher than that of last year and thus did not represent an appreciable variation in the growth rate. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays differed for each of the three provinces of the A.C. of the Basque Country, growing by 3% in Bizkaia, remaining unchanged in Gipuzkoa (0%) and diminishing by 6% in Álava.

The average length of stay became slightly shorter for the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, going from 1.94 days in September 2006 to 1.93 days this September.

The degree of occupancy by places registered a 5% decrease but the degree of occupancy by rooms, on the other hand, increased by 2% as regards September 2006. The degree of occupancy by places fell from 54.37% to 51.72%, and the degree of occupancy by rooms went up from 65% to 66.21%. This rise was especially marked in the province of Bizkaia.

The summer months of July, August and September saw a 3% increase in the number of visitors to the A.C. of the Basque Country compared to the same period of 2006, which meant 18,000 more visitors: Bizkaia experienced a 5% increase, Gipuzkoa a rise of 4% and Álava a 5% decrease. Overnight stays did not undergo any variation over the same period. They increased in Bizkaia (2%) and Gipuzkoa (1%), but decreased in Álava (-9%). The average length stay reduced by 3% and the degree of occupancy diminished by 7% over this three-month period as regards the same period of a year earlier.

AGROTOURISM

The number of visitors (-4%) and overnight stays (-8%) diminished in September 2007

10,062 visitors were registered last September in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country, 4% less than the same month of last year, growing by 13% in Álava, but diminishing by 4% in Gipuzkoa and 11% in Bizkaia. There was a 3% decrease experienced as regards visitors from within the state in the A.C. of the Basque Country and those coming from overseas reduced in number by 7%.

28,061 overnight stays were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in September 2007, meaning an 8% decrease regarding the same month of last year, with positive inter-annual growth rates in Álava (35%), but decreases in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa of 13% and 12% respectively.

The average stay per visitor diminished somewhat, going from 2.91 days last year to 2.79 this September.

The degree of occupancy by places worsened as regards its previous position by 20% and the degree of occupancy by rooms by 17%.

In the three months of July, August and September 2007, 2% fewer visitors were registered in the agrotourism establishments than during the same months of last year and overnight stays registered a 3% decrease, with only Álava reporting a positive result in this respect, since Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa showed decreases in both number of visitors and in overnight stays.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT