Press Release 21/05/2009

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR ) APRIL 2009

The number of visitors and overnight stays increased by 5% and 8% respectively in April 2009

The 2009 Easter Holiday figures compared to 2008 registered a 11% increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays were up by 10%

There were 167,590 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in April 2009, 8,500 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 5% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 7% in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa and fell by 4% in Álava, with respect to the same month of 2008. The effect of the Easter Holidays must be taken into account when analysing the monthly data, as Easter was in March in 2008 and in April in 2009.

The number of visitors from within Spain rose by 12% compared to April 2008, while the number of foreign visitors fell by 9%. There were more visitors from within Spain to Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia (16% and 15%, respectively) and fewer to Álava (-4%). The number of foreign visitors decreased in the three provinces: there were 12% fewer in Bizkaia, 8% in Gipuzkoa and 2% in Álava.

Registered overnight stays in April 2009 totalled 309,181, which was 8% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 23,500 more overnight stays. The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was positive in the three territories: they increased by 3% in Álava, by 6% in Bizkaia and by 13% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay rose by 3%: it went from 1.79 days in the previous April to 1.84 in April of this year, for the Basque Country as a whole. It rose by 7% in Álava, fell by 1% in Bizkaia and was up by 6% in Bizkaia.

The occupancy rate by bed rose slightly from 41.38% in April of last year to 41.62% this April. This rise was only due to Gipuzkoa, where the rate increased from 42.25% in April of last year to 45.22% in April 2009. There was a 11% downturn in Álava and the occupancy rate by bed fell under the average (32.10%), while Bizkaia posted a slightly lower occupancy rate in April 2009 (41.88%) than in the previous year (42.39%).

During the first four months of the year, there were a total of 529,826 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country, which was 9% down on the same period of 2008. The number of overnight stays during this four-month period came to 957,537, 10% lower than the figure for the first four months of the previous year. The average length of stay fell slightly from 1.83 days during this four-month period to 1.81 days for the same period of 2009. The degree of occupancy was down by 15% and dropped from 39.67% in the first four months of 2008 to 33.56% for the same period of this year.



Rural tourism: The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 36% and 64% respectively.

There were 11,089 visitors registered in April in rural tourism establishments in the the Basque Country; 36% more than in the same month of last year, increasing by 40% in Bizkaia, 36% in Gipuzkoa and 30% in Álava. There was a 38% increase in the number of visitors from within Spain in the Basque Country: it was up by 39% in Álava, 43% in Bizkaia and 35% in Gipuzkoa. The number of overseas visitors increased by 10% throughout the Basque Country, with the number up in Gipuzkoa (41%) and Bizkaia (14%) and down in Álava (-45%).

There were 29,172 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in April, which was 64% up on the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth in Gipuzkoa (74%), Bizkaia (60%) and Álava (47%).

The average length of stay per visitor increased with respect to April 2008, rising from 2.17 days a year ago to 2.63 days last April

The occupancy rate by bed rose from 18.06% to 26.08%, due to the increase registered in the three provinces: it stood at 24.27% in Álava, it increased to 22.96% in Bizkaia and was 29.09% in Gipuzkoa.

During the first four months of 2009, there were a total of 30,083 visitors registered in the rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country, which was 5% up on the same period of 2008.

The number of overnight stays in the period from January-April 2009 was 74,739, up 3% on the same period of the previous year.

Figures referring to Easter 2009

During the period between the Monday before Easter and the Friday after the Easter weekend (from the 6 to 17 April 2009), there was a 11% increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays were up 10% compared to the equivalent period of the previous year (from 17 to 28 March 2008) in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country.

The average stay at Easter fell slightly, down from 1.89 days in the previous year to 1.88 in 2009. The occupancy rate by beds rose from 43.05% in 2008 to 43.38% in 2009.

In rural tourism establishments, in the same period, there was a 29% increase in the number of visitors, while overnight stays were down by 3%, as the average stay fell from 3.86 days in 2008 to 2.92 days in 2009.

In the main days of the Easter celebrations (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday), the occupancy rate was 69,87% in hotel establishment and reached 81,18% in the rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country.



Table 2: Monthly Results

Source: EUSTAT



For further information:

Basque Statistics Office C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tel.: +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