Press release dated 23/02/2011

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) JANUARY 2011

The number of visitors to the Basque Country rose by 5% in January 2011

Overnight stays were up by 8%

There were 117,797 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in January 2011, 5,182 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, a 5% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose by 5% in Álava, 10% in Bizkaia, but fell by 4% in Gipuzkoa.

The number of visitors from within Spain was up 5% and the number of overseas visitors rose by 3%. The number of visitors from within Spain increased in Álava, up by 5%, and in Bizkaia, where there was a 10% rise, while it fell in Bizkaia by 2%. Foreign visitors also increased in number in Álava and Bizkaia, up 7% and 12% respectively, but fell in Gipuzkoa by 7%.

With regard to visitors from other Autonomous Communities, the greatest percentage increase was among those from Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Cantabria, Cataluña and Madird, while there was a drop in number in the visitors from Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia and Extremandura. As far as visitors from abroad were concerned, there was a rise in those from France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. However, the greatest percentage fall was among those from Germany, Finland and Greece.

Registered overnight stays in January 2011 stood at 210,414, which was 8% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 15,298 more overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was positive in Álava and Bizkaia, up by 26% and 11%, respectively, but fell by 3% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay rose compared to January 2010, up from an average stay of 1.73 days in January 2010 to 1.79 days for January this year, for the Basque Country as a whole. By provinces, it increased from 1.65 to 1.97 days in Álava, from 1.72 to 1.73 days in Bizkaia, while it fell in Gipuzkoa from the 1.78 days registered in January 2010 to the 1.79 days in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate was up 10% to 28.12% for the Basque Country overall in January 2011. This rise in number affected all three territories: in Álava, the occupancy rate rose by 28%, up from 21.18% in January 2010 to 27.02% in the same month of this year. In Bizkaia, there was a 11% rise, from 25.51% in January 2010 to 28.22% in January 2011, while in Gipuzkoa, the increase was 2%, up from an occupancy rate of 28.12% in January 2010 to 28.56% in the same month of this year.



RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors was up by 2% and overnight stays increased by 8%, compared to January 2010

There were 4,330 visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country in January, up 2% on the number of visitors in rural tourism establishments in January 2010. By provinces, the number was down by 19% in Álava, 5% in Bizkaia, but it rose by 17% in Gipuzkoa. The number of visitors from within Spain fell by 4% in the Basque Country: it fell by 23% in Álava, by 12% in Bizkaia and rose by 12% in Gipuzkoa. The number of foreign visitors increased significantly for the Basque Country overall. The percentage rise was significant in all three provinces.

There were 11,484 overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in January, which was 8% up on the previous year, with year-on-year positive growth being recorded in Bizkaia (9%) and Gipuzkoa (6%), but the number fell in Álava by 11%.

The average length of stay per visitor in the Basque Country overall increased with respect to January 2010, rising from 2.50 days a year ago to 2.65 days in the same month of this year In Álava, the average stay rose by 10% from 2.49 days in January 2010 to 2.75 days in January 2011. In Bizkaia, the figure increased by 30% and the average stay was up from 2.15 days in January 2010 to 2.79 days in January 2011. The average stay in Gipuzkoa fell by 9% from 2.78 days in January 2010 to 2.53 in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate was up by 8%, rising from 9.55% occupancy to 10.28%, as a result of the increase registered in Bizkaia (20%) and Gipuzkoa (13%), that offsets the downturn in Álava (-19%).



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.eus 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