Press release 20/01/2012

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) DECEMBER 2011

The number of visitors dropped by 1% and overnight stays fell by 3% in December 2011

2011 ended with 5% more visitors and overnight stays compared to the previous year

There were 150,091 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in December 2011, 939 down on the same month of the previous year, which was a decrease of 1%, according to Eustat data. Visitor numbers increased in Álava, where they were up by 4% and Bizkaia, where they rose 2%, but in Gipuzkoa there was a drop of 6% in relation to the data from December 2010.

Visitor numbers from within Spain fell by 1%, whilst there was no noticeable change in foreign visitor numbers (0%). There were increases in visitors from within Spain in Álava and Bizkaia, where they were up 5% and 3%, respectively, but they were down 9% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitors were up 2% in Álava and down 1% in Gipuzkoa, whereas in Bizkaia there was no noticeable change (0%).

From within Spain there was a rise in visitors from Madrid, Andalucia and Navarra, amongst other regions, and a drop mainly in those from Catalonia and Castilla y León. There were rises in foreign visitors coming from France, the United Kingdom, from countries outside the European Community and from USA-Canada, whereas there was a drop in visitors from Portugal and Latin America, amongst others.

Registered overnight stays in December 2011 totalled 271,659, which was 3% down on the same month of the previous year, that is, there were 7,615 less overnight stays. There was a positive year-on-year change in terms of overnight stays in Álava, where they were up 1%, whereas in Gipuzkoa they dropped 8%, and in Bizkaia there was practically no change (0%).

The average length of stay fell 2% in this year-on-year period for the Basque Country as a whole: in December 2010 it stood at 1.85 days, falling to 1.81 days in December 2011.

The bed occupancy rate rose by 2% compared to December 2010, going from 34.76% in December 2010 to 35.32% in December 2011. The room occupancy rate went from 40.28% in December 2010 to 40.89% in December 2011.

2011 annual balance for hotel establishments: there were 5% more visitor and overnight stays than in the previous year

There were 2,341,720 visitors in 2011, that is, 103,021 more than the previous year. The number of visitors increased by 5% in Álava/Araba, 7% in Bizkaia and 1% in Gipuzkoa.



In 2011 there were 4,435,404 overnight stays, that is, 221,344 overnight stays more than the previous year. There was a positive evolution in the three provinces. In Álava/Araba they were up by 7%, in Bizkaia 8% and in Gipuzkoa 2%.

The average length of stay rose slightly, going from 1.88 days in 2010 to 1.89 days in 2011. The bed occupancy rate in the Basque Country as a whole went from 43.97% in 2010 to 46.40% in 2011.

RURAL TOURISM

In December the number of visitors increased by 16% and overnight stays were down 11%

There were 10,463 visitors in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country in December, 16% up on the same month of the previous year.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country stood at 22,826 in December, which is 11% down on December 2010.

The average length of stay per visitor fell, going from 2.83 to 2.18 days in the Basque Country as a whole, and the bed occupancy rate was down 13%, standing at 18.93% in December 2011.

2011 annual balance for rural tourism: In December the number of visitors increased by 4% and overnight stays were down 1%

There were 123,447 visitors in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country over 2011, 4% up on the previous year, whilst overnight stays stood at 337,017, 1% less than 2010.

Visitor numbers were up 9% in Gipuzkoa, they fell 2% in Bizkaia and there was no noticeable change (0%) in Álava. Overnight stays were up 2% in Gipuzkoa, whereas they were down 4% in Bizkaia and 2% in Álava.

The average stay per visitor in 2011 fell from 2.85 days in 2010 to 2.73 days in 2011. The bed occupancy rate dropped by 3%, going from 24.06% in 2010 to 23.37% in 2011.



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