Press Release 20/11/2009

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) OCTOBER 2009

Number of visitors rose by 4% in October 2009

Overnight stays increased by 3% in October

There were 184,403 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in October 2009, 7,500 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 4% increase, according to Eustat data. This increase was based on Álava, where the number of visitors increased by 19%, and on Bizkaia with a 4% increase, while the number fell by 1% in Gipuzkoa with respect to the October figures for the previous year.

The number of visitors from within Spain was up by 7%, while the number of overseas visitors fell by 3% compared to the same month of the previous year. Visitors from within Spain increased by 27% in Álava and 8% in Bizkaia, but the figures remained practically unchanged from the previous year in Gipuzkoa (0%). The number of overseas visitors fell in the three provinces: they were down by 5% in Álava, by 3% in Bizkaia and by 2% in Gipuzkoa.

The greatest increase of Spanish visitors was mainly among those from Catalonia, Madrid, Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha and Navarra and there was a notable drop in the number from Andalusia, Murcia, Navarra and La Rioja. As far as foreign visitors were concerned, there was mainly an increase in the number from France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium, while the number from Germany, Italy and the rest of Europe decreased.

Registered overnight stays in October 2009 totalled 346,564, which was 3% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 10,000 more overnight stays. The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was positive in Álava and Gipuzkoa, up by 6% in both provinces, but fell by 1% in Bizkaia.

The length of the average stay rose from 1.90 days in October of the previous year to 1.88 in this October for the Basque Country as a whole. It fell by 11% in Álava and 5% in Bizkaia, but increased by 8% in Gipuzkoa. Thus, the average stay in Álava in October 2009 was 1.63 days, 1.80 days in Bizkaia, while it stood at 2.09 days in Gipuzkoa.

The occupancy rate by bed was down by 3%, falling from 45.60% last October to 44.07% this October for the Basque Country as a whole. It fell by 9% in Álava, down to a 45.6% occupancy rate, Bizkaia was down by 6% to an occupancy rate of 42.46% and the rate in Gipuzkoa increased by 2% and had the highest occupancy rate by bed at 48.28%. The occupancy rate by rooms also fell (8%) for the Basque Country as a whole.



RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors down p by (-1%) and overnight stays were up by (9%)

The number of visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country totalled 8,999 in October, which was down by 1% with respect to the same month of the previous year. However, the performance of the three provinces was not uniform. The number of visitors increased by 20% in Álava and by 2% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 15% in Bizkaia. The values for the visitors from within Spain were practically the same as for the previous October (0%), but there were fewer foreign visitors, with a drop of 11% being recorded for the Autonomous Community as a whole. The number from visitors within Spain was up by 14% in Álava and the foreigners by 294%, even though their relative weight was very small. Visitors from within Spain were down by 13% in Bizkaia and the foreigners fell by 34%. The number of Spanish visitors rose by 5% in Gipuzkoa, but the number of foreigners were down by 17%.

There were 23,066 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country in October, 2,000 more than the same month of the previous year (9%), with positive year-on-year growth rates for Álava (15) and Gipuzkoa (16%), but negative in Bizkaia (-5%).

The average length of stay per visitor in the Basque Country overall decreased with respect to October 2008, falling from 2.34 days a year ago to 2.56 days this October. The average stay increased in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, but fell in Álava.

The occupancy rate by bed was 20.22%, which was the same as the same period of the previous year. The rate increased in Álava (2%) and Gipuzkoa (9%), but was down in Bizkaia (-13%). The occupancy rate by rooms fell by 5% in the Basque Country as a whole.



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 T el:+34-945-01 75 06 F ax:+34-945-01 75 01 Online press releases: www.eustat.es Databank: www.eustat.eus/bancopx/english/indice.asp