There were 126,390 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the A.C. of Basque Country in December 2008, 15,000 down on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 11% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors fell in the three provinces: it was down by 9% in Álava, 12% in Bizkaia and by 10% in Gipuzkoa, compared to the figures for December 2007.

The number of visitors from within the State fell by 9%, while the number of visitors from abroad was down by 16%. The number of visitors from within the State fell in the three provinces: it was down by 7% in Bizkaia and by 10% in both Álava and Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitors decreased 24% in Bizkaia and the number was also down, although more moderately, in Gipuzkoa (-10%) and there was a slight decrease in Álava (-2%).

There was an increase in the number of visitors mainly from Asturias and Navarra, while there was a decrease in visitors from the Catalonia, Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha, primarily. Among foreigners, there was a drop for practically all nationalities, but especially those coming from France, United Kingdom, Portugal and Italy, with solely those coming from South America, Sweden and other countries of Africa, Asia and Oceania showing an increase.

Registered overnight stays in December 2008 totalled 226,434, which was 12% down on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 30,000 fewer overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was negative in the three provinces: they fell by 5% in Álava, by 13% in Bizkaia and by 12% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay reduced by 1% during this year-on-year period for the A.C. of Basque Country as a whole: from 1.81 days in December 2007 to 1.79 days last December.

The occupancy rate by place fell from 37.9% in December 2007 to 31.15% in December 2008 and the occupancy rate by room dropped from 46.34% to 38.10%.

2008 annual balance for hotel establishments: 3% fewer visitors and 4% fewer overnight stays were registered than in the previous year.

2,020,446 visitors were registered in 2008, in other words, 73,000 fewer than the previous year. Even so, the two million mark for the number of visitors staying at the hotel establishments of the A.C. of Basque Country was surpassed for the third year running. The number of visitors decreased by 5% in Álava and by 3% in both Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

The number of overnight stays in 2008 came to 3,789,563 which is to say 167,000 fewer overnight stays than the previous year and negative figures were posted by Álava (-5%), Bizkaia (-4%) and in Gipuzkoa (-5%).

The average length of stay went from 1.89 days in the previous year to 1.88 in 2008. The occupancy rate in the A.C. of Basque Country as a whole fell from 46.94% in 2007 to 44.16% in 2008.

Table 1: Annual Results

Source: EUSTAT

RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors was up by 6% and overnight stays were down by -1% in December.

There were 8,889 visitors registered in December in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, 6% more than in the same month of the previous year.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country totalled 22,007 in December, which was down by 1% with respect to the same month of the previous year.

The average length of stay per visitor dropped from 2.64 to 2.48 days in the A.C. of Basque Country as a whole and the occupancy rate by place decreased by 14%, down to 19.53% in December 2008, with the occupancy rate by room decreasing by an inter-annual 11%

2008 Annual Balance for rural tourism: the number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 4% and 1% respectively.

112,341 visitors were registered in the rural tourism establishments of the A.C. of Basque Country over 2008, meaning 4% more than a year earlier, while the number of overnight stays totalled 326,158, 1% up on 2007.

The number of visitors increased in the three provinces: They rose in Álava by 6%, 4% in Gipuzkoa and 3% in Bizkaia. Overnight stays increased in Álava (5%), fell in Bizkaia (-2%) and remained unchanged in Gipuzkoa (0%).

The average stay per visitor in 2008 fell from 3 days in 2007 to 2.90 in 2008. The occupancy rate also worsened, going from 27.00% in 2007 to 26.29% in 2008.

Table 2: Annual Results

Source: Eustat

Table 3: Monthly Results

Source: Eustat