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Press release 20/12/2011

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) NOVEMBER 2011

The number of visitors to the Basque Country decreased by 2% in November 2011

There was a decrease of 1% in overnight stays in November

There were 158,264 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in November 2011, 2829 down on the same month of the previous year, which is a decrease of 2%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose by 7% in Álava and by 1% in Bizkaia, but they fell by 10% in Gipuzkoa.

The number of Spanish visitors fell by 3% and foreign visitors were up by 2%.There was a rise in visitors from within Spain in Álava, where they increased by 8%, whilst in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa they fell by 1% and 11%, respectively. Foreign visitors increased in Álava and Bizkaia, rising by 2% and 7% respectively, but fell by 6% in Gipuzkoa.

In terms of Spanish visitors, an increase was noted in those hailing from Andalusia, Aragon, the Canary Islands and Navarre, whilst there was a drop in visitors from Madrid, Valencia and Galicia, amongst other regions. The rise in foreign visitors from Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland and the Nordic countries was particularly noteworthy. There was a drop in those hailing from Portugal, Belgium and Holland, amongst other places.

Registered overnight stays in November 2011 totalled 285,853, which was 1% down on November of the previous year, that is, there were 3357 less overnight stays. There was a positive year-on-year change in overnight stays in Álava, where they rose by 9%, and in Bizkaia, where the values of last year (0%) were repeated; in Gipuzkoa, however, there was a drop of 7%.

The average length of stay rose slightly with respect to November 2010, going from 1.80 days in November 2010 to 1.81 days in November 2011, for the Basque Country as a whole. By provinces, in Álava it rose from 1.78 to 1.81 days and in Bizkaia it dropped from 1.79 to 1.76 days, whilst in Gipuzkoa there was an increase from the 1.81 days registered in November 2010 to 1.86 days in November 2011.

There was an increase in the bed occupancy rate (2%), which was at 37.69% in November 2011 for the Basque Country as a whole. There was a rise in Álava, where the occupancy rate rose by 7%, going from 33.62% in November 2010 to 35.84% in November 2011, in Bizkaia there was a 2% rise, going from 37.34% in November 2010 to 38.11% in November 2011 and in Gipuzkoa there was also a 1% rise, going from a 37.62% occupancy rate in November 2010 to 38.08% in November of this year.

RURAL TOURISM

Visitor numbers fell by 4% and there was a fall in overnight stays (5%) in the Basque Country, compared to November 2010

In November this year there were 7170 registered visitors to rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which was a drop of 4% with respect to the visitors to rural tourism establishments in November 2010. By provinces, it was observed that in Álava there was fall of 14%, in Bizkaia there was a drop of 11%, whereas in Gipuzkoa there was an increase in visitor numbers of 6%. Spanish visitors were down 5% as a whole in the Basque Country: they rose 3% in Gipuzkoa, whereas they fell 14% in Álava and by 9% in Bizkaia. There was a 16% increase in foreign visitors in the Community as a whole, where there was a significant drop in numbers in Álava and Bizkaia and a noticeable rise in Gipuzkoa, in percentage terms.

In November, there were 16,180 overnight stays recorded in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which is a drop of 5% with respect to the figures for the previous year, with negative year-on-year growth rates in Álava, where they dropped by 7%, and in Bizkaia, where they dropped by 19%, whilst in Gipuzkoa they rose by 6%.

The average length of stay decreased in the Basque Country as a whole with respect to November 2010, falling from 2.28 days one year ago, to 2.26 days in November 2011. In Álava there was a rise of 9%, with the average stay going from 1.88 days in November 2010 to 2.04 days in November 2011, in Bizkaia the drop was 9%, with the average stay going from 2.53 days in November 2010 to 2.29 days in November 2011, and in Gipuzkoa there was a 0% reduction in the average stay, where it went from 2.35 days in November 2010 to 2.34 days in November of this year.

The bed occupancy rate saw a drop of 9%, where it went from 14.80% occupancy to 13.54%, as a result of the fall experienced in the three provinces: In Álava it was down by 11%, in Bizkaia 19% and in Gipuzkoa 1%.