161,959 visitors were registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in November 2007, 8,000 more than those recorded during the same month of last year, meaning an increase of 5%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors decreased by 13% in Álava, but increased by 11% in Bizkaia and by 7% in Gipuzkoa, in relation to the figures for November 2006.

The number of visitors from within the state rose by 2%, while the number of visitors coming from overseas increased by 17%. Visitors from within the state decreased in Álava by 15%, and increased in Bizkaia by 7% and in Gipuzkoa by 3%. The number of overseas visitors also diminished in Álava by 2%, but increased in Bizkaia and in Gipuzkoa by 20% in both cases.

Among visitors from within the state an increase was registered for those coming chiefly from Catalonia, Castile and Leon, Galicia, Community of Valencia and Navarre and there was a decrease for those coming from Madrid, Asturias, Castile-La Mancha and Cantabria, among others. As for visitors from overseas, there was a rise for those coming from France, Portugal, Italy and the United Kingdom, among others, and a fall for those from Holland, Ireland, USA-Canada and Japan, among others.

Overnight stays registered in November 2007 came to 303,943, representing an 8% increase as regards November of last year, or in other words, almost 24,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays was positive in Bizkaia (9%) and in Gipuzkoa (14%), but in Álava there was a 6% decrease.

The average length of stay experienced a 3% increase in November 2007 for the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, going from 1.82 days to 1.88 days.

The degree of occupancy by places registered an 8% rise and the degree of occupancy by rooms also grew by 9% as regards November 2006. The degree of occupancy by places rose from 41.57% to 44.70% and the degree of occupancy by rooms went from 53.41% to 58.25%. This improvement was reflected across all three provinces.

AGROTOURISM

There was an increase in the number of visitors (22%) and overnight stays (24%) in November 2007

7,210 visitors were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in November, 22% more than in the same month of last year, growing by 39% in Álava, by 37% in Bizkaia and by 6% in Gipuzkoa. The increase seen among visitors from within the state was 21% in the A.C. of the Basque Country and the number of those coming from overseas increased by 35%.

There were 19,336 overnight stays in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in November 2007, meaning an increase of 24% as regards the same month of last year, with positive inter-annual growth in all three provinces: in Álava they grew by 46%, in Bizkaia by 21% and in Gipuzkoa by 18%.

The average stay per visitor lengthened, going from 2.64 days last year to 2.68 in November.

The degree of occupancy by places increased by 18% and the degree of occupancy by rooms improved by 11%.

Table 1: Monthly results

Source: EUSTAT