Press Release 22/06/2009

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR ) MAY 2009

The same number of visitors registered in May 2009 as in 2008

Overnight stays decreased by 1% in May

There were 182,763 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in May 2009, which was practically the same number as in the same month of the previous year, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 2% in Álava and 6% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 6% in Bizkaia, compared with the same month of 2008.

With respect to May 2008, the number of visitors from the rest of Spain rose by 2% and the number of overseas visitors fell by 6%. There was an increase in the number of Spanish visitors in Álava, where the number grew by 6%, and in Gipukzoa, up by 8%. However, there was a downturn of 3% in Bizkaia. Overseas visitors increased by 3% in Gipuzkoa, but decreased by 10% in Álava and 11% in Bizkaia.

The main increase was in the number of visitors from Andalusia, Galicia, Catalonia and Madrid. The greatest decrease was among the visitors from Asturias and Cantabria. As far as the foreign visitors were concerned, there was an increase in the number from France, the Netherlands, Latin America and Japan, and a decrease in those from Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, mainly.

Registered overnight stays in May 2009 came to 333,836, which was down 1% on May 2008, that is, 4,000 fewer overnight stays. The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was positive in Álava and Gipuzkoa, up by 18% and 3%, respectively, but fell by 9% in Bizkaia.

Throughout the Basque Country, the average length of stay was down a percentage point, from 1.84 days in May of the previous year to 1.83 days this May. It was up by 16% in Álava, and fell by 4% in Bizkaia and in Gipuzkoa.

The occupancy rate by bed was down by 8%, and fell from 47% in May of last year to 43.38% this May. The occupancy rate by room was down by 7%. Both occupancy rates were up in Álava and down in Gipuzkoa and, particularly, in Bizkaia.



Rural tourism: The number of visitors was up by 8% and overnight stays were down by -10%.

There were 9,084 visitors registered in May in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country; 8% more than the same month of last year, increasing by 13% in Álava, 8% in Bizkaia and 5% in Gipuzkoa. There was a 5% increase in visitors from within Spain to the Basque Country, rising by 18% in Álava, 3% in Gipuzkoa, while there was no change in Bizkaia (0%). The number of overseas visitors dropped by 30% throughout the Basque Country, with the number falling in Álava (-32%), but rose in Bizkaia by 77% and in Gipuzkoa by 28%.

There were 23,261 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in May, which was 10% down on the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in Bizkaia (3%), while it fell in Álava and Gipuzkoa by 14% in both cases.

The average length of stay per visitor in the Basque Country as a whole increased with respect to May 2008, rising from 3.05 days a year ago to 2.56 days this past May.

The occupancy rate by beds fell by 18% fell by in the Basque Country, due to the negative impact of the three territories. The occupancy rate by rooms fell by 13%, as a result of the decrease in the three territories, particularly in Gipuzkoa and Álava.

 

Table 1: 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