Press release dated 22/11/2010

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) OCTOBER 2010

Number of visitors to the Basque Country rose by 12% in October 2010

Overnight stays increased by 15% in October

In October 2010, there were 206,981 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country, 22,578 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, a 12% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose by 6% in Álava, 14% in Bizkaia and 12% in Gipuzkoa.

The number of visitors from within Spain was up by 9% and the number of overseas visitors rose by 20%. The number of visitors from within the State increased in the three provinces: It rose by 8% in Álava and Bizkaia, in both cases, and by 11% in Gipuzkoa. The number of foreign visitors rose in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, with increases of 29% and 16%, respectively, but fell by 4% in Álava.

With regard to the visitors from within Spain, the greatest increase in the percentage of visitors was among those from Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia Comunidad Valenciana and Navarra, while there was a drop in visitors from Galicia, Cantabria, Castilla y León and La Rioja. In terms of foreign visitors, there was an increase, to a greater or lesser extent, in those from all countries except from Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland and Japan. Special mention should be made of the percentage increases in the number from France, USA and Canada, the Netherlands and Ibero-America.

Registered overnight stays in October 2010 stood at 398,570, which was 15% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 52,006 more overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was positive in the three provinces: it rose by 20% in Álava, by 24% in Bizkaia and by 4% in Gipuzkoa.

The duration of the average stay increased compared to the same month of October 2009, rising from an average stay of 1.88 days in October 2009 to 1.93 days in the same month of this year, for the Basque Country overall. By provinces, it increased from 1.63 to 1.85 days in Álava, from 1.80 to 1.95 days in Bizkaia, while it fell in Gipuzkoa from the 2.09 days registered in October 2009 to the 1.93 days in the same month of this year.

The occupancy rate by beds was up by 10% to 48.62% for the Basque Country overall in October 2010. This rise in number affected all three territories: In Álava, the occupancy rate increased by 5% from 38.74% in October 2009 to 40.86% in the same month of this year. The rate increased by 18% in Bizkaia, rising from 42.46% in October 2009 to 50.14% in October 2010 and there was also a 4% increase in Gipuzkoa, where the occupancy rate rose from 48.28% in October 2009 to 50.29% in the same month of this year.



RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors was up by 16% and overnight stays increased by 11% in the Basque Country, compared to October 2009

In October, there were 10,439 visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country, which was up 16% with respect to the number of visitors at rural tourism establishments in October 2009. By provinces, the number was up by 32% in Álava, 13% in Bizkaia and by 10% in Gipuzkoa. The number of visitors from within Spain was up by 18% in the Basque Country: they were up by 39% in Álava, by 13% in Bizkaia and 9% in Gipuzkoa. The figures for foreign visitors remained practically unchanged for the Basque Country overall, even though they fell significantly in number in Álava and Gipuzkoa but rose significantly in Bizkaia, in percentage terms.

There were 25,557 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in October, which was 11% up on the same month of the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in the three provinces: up by 29% in Álava, by 11% in Bizkaia and 4% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay per visitor the Basque Country overall decreased with respect to October 2009, falling from 2.56 days a year ago to 2.45 days in October 2010. The three provinces were affected by this drop. In Álava, the average stay fell by 3% from 2.29 days in October 2009 to 2.23 days in October 2010. In Bizkaia, the figure fell by 2% and the average stay dropped from 2.48 days in October 2009 to 2.43 days in October 2010. The average stay in Gipuzkoa fell by 6% from 2.74 days in October 2009 to 2.57 in the same month of this year.

The degree of occupancy by beds was up by 4%, rising from 20.22% occupancy to 20.93%, as a result in the increase noted in Álava (11%) and Bizkaia (8%), that offsets the fall registered in Gipuzkoa (-2%).



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 Further press releases on EETR - Survey on Tourist Establishments of the Basque Country Databank on EETR - Survey on Tourist Establishments of the Basque Country