164,428 visitors were registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in March 2008; 2000 less visitors than in the same month of last year, meaning a 1% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 1% in Gipuzkoa but decreased by 6% in Álava and 1% in Bizkaia.

The number of visitors from within the state fell by 1% and the number of overseas visitors decreased by 3%. The number of visitors from within the state decreased in Álava (-2%) and Bizkaia (-1%), but remained practically unchanged in Gipuzkoa (0%). The number of foreigners increased by 2% in Gipuzkoa but decreased by 17% in Álava and 3% in Bizkaia.

Among visitors from within the state an increase was registered for those coming from Catalonia, Galicia, the community of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Asturias, in particular. The was a decrease in the number of visitors from Aragon, the Balearic Islands and La Rioja. Among foreigners, those coming from Portugal, Italy, Latin America, Japan and Non EU European countries increased in number, while those coming from the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, among others, decreased.

Overnight stays registered in March 2008 came to 307,637; a rise of 3% in relation to March of the previous year, which is to say over 8,000 more overnight stays. The inter-annual evolution of overnight stays was positive in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia where numbers rose 7% and 1%, respectively. In Álava numbers fell by 3%.

Throughout the A.C of the Basque Country the average length of stay went from 1.80 days last year to 1.87 this past March. This index increased in all three provinces: In Gipuzkoa the length of stay rose from 1.81 to 1.92 days and in Álava and Bizkaia the length of stay rose by 3% in both cases with an average stay of 1.76 and 1.87 days for March 2008.

The degree of occupancy by place increased by 5%; going from 41.55% in March of last year to 43.50% this March. It should be noted that this increase affected Gipuzkoa with a degree of occupancy at 43.04% and Bizkaia, where the degree of occupancy went from 42.06% to 44.34%. In Álava it remained virtually unchanged, registered at 42.0%.

Agrotourism A rise in the number of visitors (17%) and overnight stays (55%)

9,713 visitors were registered in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C of the Basque Country in March; 17% more than in the same month of last year. Numbers increased by 11% in Álava, 22% in Bizkaia and by 12% in Gipuzkoa. The rise seen among visitors from within the state was 16% in the A.C. of the Basque Country overall: numbers increased by 11% in Álava, 22% in Bizkaia and 14% in Gipuzkoa. The number of foreigners increased by 37% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, with dramatic percentage rises. In Álava there was a 14% increase and in Bizkaia it rose123%. In Gipuzkoa there was a 6% fall.

Overnight stays in the agrotourism establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country came to 29,123 in March, meaning an 55% increase in relation to the same month of last year, with positive inter-annual growth rates in all three provinces. In Álava they went up 58%, in Bizkaia by 65% and in Gipuzkoa they increased 49% in relation to March 2007.

The average length of stay per visitor increased in the A.C. of the Basque Country overall in relation to March of 2007, going from 2.26 days a year earlier to 3.00 this March. This index improved in Álava (42%) with an average of 3.23 days; it also increased in Bizkaia (28%) at 2.92 days and in Gipuzkoa (32%) with an average of 2.97 days.

The degree of occupancy by place registered a 53% increase going from 18.66% last year to 28.47% this March, thanks to increases in Álava (47%), Bizkaia (62%) and Gipuzkoa (49%). Álava had a degree of occupancy by place at 22.40%, Bizkaia was at 27.29% and Gipuzkoa was at 29.80%.

Data from 2008 Holy Week

In the period starting Monday of Holy Week and Friday of Easter week (March 17 to the 28, 2008) the number of visitors decreased by 14% and the number of overnight stays in hotels throughout the A.C of Basque Country fell by 18.2% in relation to the previous year (April 2 to 13th, 2007).

The average length of stay during Holy Week fell from 1.98 days last year to 1.89 days in 2008. The degree of occupancy fell from 50.75% in 2007 to 43.05% in 2008.

At Agrotourism establishments during the same period there was a 5.7% decrease in the number of visitors but a 1.9% increase in overnight stays, thanks to the average length of stay increasing from 3.57 days in 2007 to 3.86 days in 2008.

During the most important days of Holy Week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) the degree of occupancy at hotel establishments was at 69.26% and reached 89.82% at agrotourism establishments in the C.A. of the Basque Country.

Table 1: Monthly Results

Source: EUSTAT