There were 181,695 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of the Basque Country in June 2008, 7,000 fewer visitors than in the same month of the previous year resulting in a 4% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors decreased by 6% in Gipuzkoa, 3% in Bizkaia and 2% in Álava, compared with the same month of 2007.

With respect to June 2007, the number of visitors from within Spain fell by 6% and the number of overseas visitors remained at the same level as the previous year. The number of visitors from within Spain fell by 7% in both Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, and by 1% in Álava. Foreign visitors increased by 3% in Bizkaia and increased by 5% in Álava and by 2% in Gipuzkoa.

There was an increase in the number of visitors from Madrid and La Rioja, among others. There was a drop in the number of visitors from Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León, in particular. As far as overseas visitors were concerned, there was an increase in the number of visitors from Eastern Europe, USA-Canada and Japan, among others, while the number from the United Kingdom, France and Portugal were down

Registered overnight stays in June 2008 came to 328,597, which was 6% down on June 2007, that is, 19,000 fewer overnight stays. The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was negative in Bizkaia, where it fell by 8%, and in Gipuzkoa, where it was down by 5%, but there was no change in Álava (0%).

Throughout the A.C of the Basque Country, the average length of stay was down 2 percentage points, from 1.84 days in June of the previous year to 1.81 days this past June. It grew by 2% in Álava and by 1% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 4% in Bizkaia.

The occupancy rate by bed fell by 3%, and dropped from 48.75% in June of last year to 47.06% this June. The occupancy rate by room fell by 4%. Both occupancy rates decreased in the three provinces to different degrees.

Rural tourism: The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 1% and 4% respectively.

There were 9,880 visitors registered in June in rural tourism establishments in the A. C. of the Basque Country; 1% more than the same month of last year, increasing by 14% in Álava, but falling by 3% in Bizkaia and 1% in Gipuzkoa. The increase in the number of visitors from the rest of Spain was 4% in the A.C. of the Basque Country: it was up by 17% in Álava, 5% in Gipuzkoa and down by 3% in Bizkaia. The number of overseas visitors dropped by 27% throughout the A.C of the Basque Country, with the number falling in Álava (-24%), Bizkaia (-4%) and Gipuzkoa (-48%).

There were 24,496 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the A.C of the Basque Country in June, which was 4% up on the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in Álava (8%) and Gipuzkoa (7%), while they fell by 2% in Bizkaia.

The average length of stay per visitor in the A.C. of the Basque Country overall increased with respect to June 2007, going from 2.40 days a year ago to 2.48 days this past June.

The occupancy rate by bed increased by 2% in the A.C. of the Basque Country as a whole, due to the positive impact of Gipuzkoa. The occupancy rate per room fell by 3%, due to the decrease registered in Álava and Bizkaia.