Press release dated 22/03/2011

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) FEBRUARY 2011

The number of visitors to the Basque Country rose by 2% in February 2011

Overnight stays were up by 5%

There were 135,371 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in February 2011, 3,284 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, a 2% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose by 10% in Álava, 8% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 3% in Bizkaia.

The number of visitors from within Spain was up 5% and the number of overseas visitors fell by 6%. The number of visitors from within Spain increased in Álava, up by 18%, and in Gipuzkoa, where there was a 9% rise, while it fell in Bizkaia by 1%. The number of foreign visitors rose in Gipuzkoa, with an increase of 7%, but fell by 24% and 9% in Álava and Bizkaia, respectively.

With regard to visitors from other Autonomous Communities, the greatest percentage increase was among those from Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-León, Cantabria and Madird, while there was a drop in number in the visitors from Catalonia, the Canary Islands, Murcia Galicia and Extremandura. As far as visitors from abroad were concerned, there was a rise in those from France, Germany and the Netherlands. The sharpest percentage decreases were in the number of visitors from Portugal, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark and Finland.

Registered overnight stays in February 2010 totalled 246,064, which was 5% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 10,955 more overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was positive in Álava and Gipuzkoa, up by 26% and 15%, respectively, but fell by 8% in Bizkaia.

The average length of stay rose compared to February 2010, up from an average stay of 1.78 days in February 2010 to 1.82 days for February this year, for the Basque Country as a whole. By provinces, it increased from 1.68 to 1.94 days in Álava, from 1.73 to 1.85 days in Gipuzkoa, while it fell in Bizkaia from the 1.84 days registered in February 2010 to the 1.75 days in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate was up by 4% to 34.79%% for the Basque Country overall in February 2010. This rise affected the provinces of Álava and Gipuzkoa, but not Bizkaia where there was a downturn. in Álava, the occupancy rate rose by 26%, up from 27.79% in February 2010 to 34.93% in the same month of this year. In Gipuzkoa, this upturn was 15%, up from 31.39% in February 2009 to 36.00% in Feburary 2011. The drop was 8% in Bizkaia, down from 36.65% occupancy in February 2010 to 33.89% in that month of this year.



RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors and overnight stays increased by 4%, compared to February 2010

There were 6,352 visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country in February, up 4% on the number of visitors in rural tourism establishments in February 2010. By provinces, the number was up by 5% in Álava, 11% in Bizkaia, but it fell by 9% in Gipuzkoa. The number of visitors from within Spain was up by 3% in the Basque Country: by 9% in Álava, a further 9% in Gipuzkoa and fell by 14% in Bizkaia. The number of foreign visitors rose significant for the Basque Country overall. The percentage rise was significant in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, but there was a notable drop in Álava, in percentage terms.

There were 13,652 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in February, which was 4% up on the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in Álava (3%) and Gipuzkoa (14%), but the number fell in Bizkaia by 9%.

The average length of stay per visitor remained unchanged for the Basque Country overall with respect to February 2010, as the average stay per visitor was 2.15 days in both months. In Álava, the average stay fell by 2% from 2.21 days in February 2010 to 2.16 days in February 2011. In Bizkaia, the decrease was almost unnoticeable as the average stay dropped from 2.40 days in February 2010 to 2.39 days in February 2011. The average stay in Gipuzkoa increased by 3% from 1.99 days in February 2010 to 2.04 in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate was up by 2%, rising from 12.83% occupancy to 13.14%, as a result of the increase registered in Gipuzkoa (16%), that offsets the downturn in Álava (-5%) and Bizkaia (-12%).



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