Press release 20/02/2009
SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR ) JANUARY 2009
Number of visitors fell by 15% in January 2009
The number of overnight stays were down by 16% compared to January 2008
There were 100,983 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in January 2009, 18,500 down on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 15% decrease, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors fell by 27% in Álava, 17% in Bizkaia and 11% in Gipuzkoa.
The number of visitors from within Spain fell by 14% and the number of overseas visitors was down by 20%. The number of visitors from within the State fell in the three provinces: The number was down by 28% in Álava, by 14% in Gipuzkoa and by 9% in Bizkia. The number of foreign visitors also decreased in the three provinces: by 24% in Álava, and Gipuzkoa and by 16% in Bizkia.
There was an increase in the number of visitors from Galicia, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Ceuta and Melilla, while the number of visitors from Catalonia, Andalusia, Aragon and Castilla y Léon fell significantly. The number of visitors from Denmark, Holland and South America rose, while there was a decrease in the visitors from France, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom and Belgium, among others.
Registered overnight stays in January 2009 totalled 182,863, which was 16% down on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 36,000 fewer overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was negative in the three provinces: it was down by 21% in Álava and by 16% in both Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.
The average length of stay for the Basque Country as a whole went from 1.83 days in the previous year to 1.81 in January of this year. This index fell in Bizkaia (-5%) and rose in Álava and Gipuzkoa (8% and 1%, respectively).
The occupancy rate by bed fell by 22%, and dropped from 33.25% in January of last year to 26.09% this January. This drop in number affected all three territories: it was down by 28% in Álava, by 22% in Bizkaia and by 18% in Gipuzkoa.
Rural tourism: The number of visitors and of overnight stays remained stable in the Basque Country, compared to January 2008
There were 4,146 visitors registered in January in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, 1% down on the same month of the previous year. The number increased by 17% in Álava and by 7% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 24% in Bizkaia. The increase in the number of visitors from the rest of Spain was 3% in the Basque Country: there were fewer in Bizkaia (22%) , but there were more in Álava and Gipuzkoa (34% and 8%, respectively). The number of overseas visitors decreased by 39% throughout the Basque Country, with the number down in the three provinces: there was a notable drop in percentage terms in Álava and Bizkia and a more moderate one in Gipuzkoa (-7%).
There were 10,595 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in January, which was 1% up on the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in Álava (72%), but it fell in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa by 23% and 5%, respectively.
The average length of stay per visitor in the Basque Country overall increased with respect to January 2008, going from 2.52 days a year ago to 2.56 days this January. This positive trend was recorded in Bizkaia and, above all, Álava, while this index fell in Gipuzkoa (-11%9.
The occupancy rate by bed fell by 9%, down from 10.73% occupancy to 9.81%, as a result of the decreases recorded in Bizkaia (-28%) and Gipuzkoa (-15%), while there was a 52% increase in Álava, placing it at 12.88%.
Table 1: Monthly Results
Source: EUSTAT
For further information:
Basque Statistics Office
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tlf:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es
Contact: Gerardo Pérez Aja
Tel:+34-945-01 75 06 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01
Online press releases: www.eustat.es
Databank: www.eustat.eus/bancopx/english/indice.aspx