Press release 19/01/2010
The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 5% and 3% respectively in December
2009 ended with 1% fewer visitors and 1% fewer overnight stays at hotel establishments.
There were 132,394 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in December 2009, 6,000 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 5% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose in the three provinces: it was up by 7% in Álava, 6% in Bizkaia and by 2% in Gipuzkoa, compared to the figures for December 2008.
The number of visitors from within Spain was up by 4%, while there were 7% more visitors from abroad. The number of visitors from within the State increased in the three provinces: They rose in Álava by 7%, 5% in Bizkaia and 2% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitors also increased in number in the three provinces: by 7% in Álava, 11% in Bizkaia and 3% in Gipuzkoa.
There was an increase in the number of visitors mainly from Madrid, Catalonia and Andalusia, while there was a decrease in visitors from Asturias and Navarra primarily. The biggest drop in foreign visitors was among those from Portugal and USA-Canada, while there was an increase in visitors from Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
Registered overnight stays in December 2009 totalled 233,910, which was 3% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 6,000 more overnight stays. The year-on-year evolution of overnight stays was negative in Álava (10%), but was up by 9 and 1% in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, respectively.
The average length of stay reduced by 1% during this year-on-year period for the Basque Country: from 1.79 days in December 2008 to 1.77 days last December.
The bed occupancy rate remained practically constant with respect to December 2008 and the room occupancy rate fell from 38.01% to 37.66%.
2009 annual balance for hotel establishments: 1% fewer visitors and 1% fewer overnight stays were registered than in the previous year.
1,991,790 visitors were registered in 2009, in other words, 29,000 fewer than the previous year. The number of visitors decreased by 2% in Álava, 1% in Bizkaia and also in Gipuzkoa.
The number of overnight stays in 2009 totalled 3,743,209, which is to say 50,000 fewer overnight stays than in the previous year, and negative figures were posted by Álava (-1%), Bizkaia (-3%) and there was no variations in Gipuzkoa (0%).
The average length of stay remained steady at 1.88 days. The occupancy rate in the Basque Country as a whole fell from 44.57% in 2008 to 41.66% in 2009.
RURAL TOURISM
The number of visitors was up by 3% and overnight stays were down by 8% in December
There were 9,142 visitors registered in December in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, 3% more than in the same month of the previous year.
Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments of theBasque Country totalled 23,669 in December, which was up by 8% with respect to the same month of the previous year.
The average length of stay per visitor increased from 2.48 to 2.59 days for the Basque Country overall and the bed occupancy rate was up by 7% to 20.92% in December 2009 and the room occupancy rate increased by 4% on the pervious year.
2009 Annual Balance for rural tourism: the number of visitors rose by 1%, while overnight stays were down by 1%.
113,624 visitors were registered in the rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country during 2009, meaning 1% more than a year earlier, while the number of overnight stays totalled 324,078, 1% down on 2008.
The number of visitors increased by 3% in Álava and Gipuzkoa, and fell by 3% in Bizkaia. Overnight stays increased in Álava (1%), fell in Bizkaia (-3%) and remained unchanged in Gipuzkoa (0%).
The average stay per visitor in 2009 fell from 2.90 days in 2008 to 2.85 in 2009. The occupancy rate also worsened, going from 26.29% in 2008 to 24.10% in 2009.
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
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