There were 183,410 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in May 2008; more than 8,000 fewer visitors than in the same month of last year resulting in a 4% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 2% in Bizkaia, but fell by 12% in Gipuzkoa and 2% in Álava, compared with the same month of 2007.

With respect to May 2007, the number of visitors from within the state fell by 7% and the number of overseas visitors grew by 1%. In the three provinces, visitors from within the state rose by 1% in Bizkaia, while they fell by 16% in Gipuzkoa and 4% in Álava. Overseas visitors increased by 3% in Álava and Bizkaia, but decreased by 2% in Gipuzkoa.

There was an increase in the number of visitors from Asturias, Castilla y León, La Rioja and Murcia. The greatest decrease was among the visitors from Catalonia and Madrid. As far as overseas visitors were concerned, there was an increase in the number of visitors from France, Portugal and Italy, while the number from The Netherlands, United Kingdom and USA-Canada were down.

Registered overnight stays in May 2008 came to 337,866, which was a 29% decline from May 2008, that is, 6,000 fewer overnight stays The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was positive in Bizkaia, up by 4%, but decreased by 4% in Álava and by 7% in Gipuzkoa.

Throughout the A.C of the Basque Country, the average length of stay was down 2 percentage point, from 1.80 days in May of the previous year to 1.84 days this past May. It decreased by 2% in Álava, was up by 2% in Bizkaia and 6% in Gipuzkoa.

The occupancy rate by bed was up by 1%, and went from 46.76% in May of last year to 47.00% this May. The occupancy rate by room remained practically unchanged. Both occupancy rates increased in Bizkaia and decreased in Álava and in Gipuzkoa.

Rural tourism: The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 7% and 33% respectively.

There were 8,431 visitors registered in May in rural tourism establishments in the A. C. of the Basque Country; 7% more than the same month of last year, increasing by 21% in Álava, 8% in Bizkaia and 1% in Gipuzkoa. There was a 9% increase in visitors from within the state to A.C of the Basque Country, rising by 14% in Álava, 10% in Bizkaia and 6% in Gipuzkoa. The number of overseas visitors dropped by 11% throughout the A.C of the Basque Country, increasing in Álava (141%), but not in Bizkaia where it fell 10% and Gipuzkoa where it was down by 33%.

There were 25,713 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the A.C of the Basque Country in May, which was 33% compared to the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in the three provinces: Álava (46%), Gipuzkoa (30%) and Bizkaia (28%).

The average length of stay per visitor increased with respect to May 2007, going from 2.45 days a year ago to 3.05 days this past May.

The occupancy rate by place increased by 31% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, due to the positive impact of the three territories. The occupancy rate per room improved by 18%, due to the increase registered in the three provinces.

Table 1: Monthly Results

Source: EUSTAT