Press release 21.03.12
The number of visitors to the Basque Country was down 4% in February 2012
There was also a drop of 7% in overnight stays
There were 130,439 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in February 2012, 4932 down on the same month of the previous year, which is a decrease of 4%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 4% in Álava, but dropped 1% in Bizkaia and 11% in Gipuzkoa.
Numbers of visitors from Spain fell by 6%, in the Basque Country as a whole. There was a rise in visitors from within Spain in Álava, where they increased by 2%, however in Bizkaia there was a drop of 3% and in Gipuzkoa they fell by 14%. The number of foreign visitors was up 3% in the Basque Country. in Araba they were up 18%, in Bizkaia 4%, but in Gipuzkoa they were down 1%.
Amongst travellers from other Autonomous Communities there was a greater percentage increase in those coming from Murcia, Andalusia, the Canary Islands and Ceuta and Melilla, whilst there was a decrease in those coming mainly from the Balearics, Asturias, La Rioja, Cantabria and Navarra. There was a rise amongst foreign visitors from, above all, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, the Nordic countries and Latin America. The drop in visitor numbers from Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland and Italy was particularly noteworthy.
Registered overnight stays in February 2012 totalled 228,384, 7% down on the same month of the previous year, that is, there were 17,680 less overnight stays. There was a positive year-on-year change in Overnight stays in Álava, where they rose by 1%, but in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa they were down 3% and 17%, respectively.
The average length of stay decreased with respect to February 2011, going from 1.82 days in February 2011 to 1.75 days for the same month of 2012, for the Basque Country as a whole. By provinces, in Álava it dropped from 1.94 to 1.88 days and in Bizkaia from 1.75 to 1.72 days, whilst in Gipuzkoa it went from 1.85 days in February 2011 to 1.72 days in the same month of 2012.
The bed occupancy rate was down 8%, and stood at 32.04% in February 2012 for the Basque Country as a whole. This drop affected the three provinces. In Álava the bed occupancy rate was down 7%, going from 34.93% in February 2011 to 32.57% in February 2012; in Bizkaia this drop was 5%, with the occupancy rate going from 33.89% in February 2011 to 32.29% in February 2012 and in Gipuzkoa there was a drop of 13%, where it went from 36.00% in February 2011 to 31.35% in February 2012.
RURAL TOURISM
Visitor numbers fell by 18% and overnight stays were down 16%, compared to February 2011
In February this year there were 5192 registered visitors to rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which was a drop of 18% with respect to the visitors to rural tourism establishments in February 2011. By provinces, it was observed that in Álava there was a drop of 7%, whilst visitor numbers were down by 21% in both Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. Spanish visitors were down 17% as a whole in the Basque Country. They were down by 10% in Álava, 16% in Bizkaia and by 20% in Gipuzkoa. There was a drop in foreigner numbers in the Community as a whole, with a notable rise in Álava but a fall above all in Bizkaia and to a lesser extent in Gipuzkoa, all in percentage terms.
Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country stood at 11,513 in February, which was a reduction of 16% on the previous year, whilst the year-on-year figures for Álava were positive, growing 2%, whereas in Gipuzkoa they were down 16% and in Bizkaia 27%.
The average length of stay increased in the Basque Country as a whole with respect to February 2011, going from 2.15 days one year ago to 2.22 days in February 2012. In Álava there was a rise of 10%, with the average stay going from 2.16 days in February 2011 to 2.37 days in February 2012; in Bizkaia there was a drop of 8%, with the average stay going from 2.39 days in February 2011 to 2.19 days in February 2012, and in Gipuzkoa there was a 6% rise in the average stay, where it went from 2.04 days in February 2011 to 2.17 days in the same month of this year.
There was a drop of 23% in the bed occupancy rate, where it went from 13.14% to 10.15%, as a result of the fall experienced in the three provinces. In Bizkaia there was a drop of 29%, in Gipuzkoa the fall was 26% and in Álava 8%.
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