Press release dated 21/01/2011

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) DECEMBER 2010

The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 14% and 19% respectively in December

2010 ended with 12% more visitors and 13% more overnight stays at hotel establishments

There were 151,030 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in December 2010, 18,500 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words a 14% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose in the three provinces: it was up 13% in Álava, 16% in Bizkaia and by 12% in Gipuzkoa, compared to the December 2009 figures.

The number of visitors from within Spain was up 14%, while there were 15% more visitors from abroad. The number of visitors from within Spain increased in the three provinces: it rose in Álava by 15%, 16% in Bizkaia and 11% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitors also increased in number in the three provinces: by 3% in Álava, 16% in Bizkaia and 17% in Gipuzkoa.

There was mainly an increase in the number of visitors from Madrid, Catalonia and Castilla y León, while the visitors from La Rioja, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia dropped in number. As far as foreign visitors were concerned, the number from France, Portugal, Italy and USA-Canada rose, but there was a downturn in those from the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland, among others.

Registered overnight stays in December 2010 stood at 279,274, which was 19% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 45,000 more overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was positive in the three provinces: it rose by 36% in Álava, 16% in Bizkaia and 18% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay rose by 5% for the Basque Country overall for this year-on-year period: it was 1.77 days in December 2009 and rose to 1.85 days last December.

The bed occupancy rate was up 11% with respect to December 2009, as it rose from 31.19% in December 2009 to 34.76% in December 2010. The room occupancy rate increased from 37.66% in December 2009 to 40.28% for the same month of last year.

2010 annual balance for hotel establishments: 12% more visitors and 13% more overnight stays were registered than in the previous year.

In 2010, there were 2,238,699 registered visitors, in other words, 247,000 fewer than in the previous year. The number of visitors rose by 22% in Álava, 11% in Bizkaia and 10% in Gipuzkoa.

The total number of overnight stays in 2010 came to 4,214,060, i.e. 471,000 more than in the previous year, and positive figures were posted by the three provinces. The figures increased by 25% in Álava, 14% in Bizkaia and 7% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay remained steady at 1.88 days. The bed occupancy rate for the Basque Country overall fell from 41.66% in 2009 to 43.97% in 2010.

RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors decreased by 1% and overnight stays was up 8% in December

There were 9,031 visitors registered in December in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country, 1% down on the same month of the previous year.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country totalled 25,535 in December, which was 8% up on December 2009.

The average length of stay per visitor increased from 2.59 to 2.83 days for the Basque Country overall and the bed occupancy rate was up 3% to 21.64% in December 2010.

2010 Annual Balance for rural tourism: The number of visitors and overnight stays rose by 5%.

There were 118,832 visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country throughout 2010, which was 5% up on the previous year, while the number of overnight stays totalled 339,092, which was also a rise of 5% compared to 2009.

The number of visitors increased by 14% in Álava and by 2% in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. Overnight stays were up 15% in Álava, 3% in Bizkaia and 2% in Gipuzkoa.

The average stay per visitor in 2010 remained unchanged (2.85 days) with respect to the 2009 figure. The occupancy rate likewise barely changed as it fell from 24.10% in 2009 to 24.06% in 2010.





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 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