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Press release 20.04.12

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) MARCH 2012

The number of visitors to the Basque Country was down 3% in March 2012

There was also a drop of 3% in overnight stays

There were 170,166 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in March 2012, 5233 down on the same month of the previous year, which is a decrease of 3%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 5% in Álava, but dropped 5% in Bizkaia and 3% in Gipuzkoa.

Numbers of visitors from Spain fell by 2%, in the Basque Country as a whole. There was a rise in visitors from within Spain in Álava, where they increased by 6%, however in Bizkaia there was a drop of 6% and in Gipuzkoa there was no change (0%). The number of foreign visitors was down by 5% in the Basque Country. There was no change in Álava (0%), they were down 2% in Bizkaia and in Gipuzkoa they dropped by 10%.

Amongst travellers from other Autonomous Communities there was a greater percentage increase in those coming from Madrid, Andalusia, the Balearics and Murcia, whilst there was a decrease in those from Catalonia, Cantabria, Aragón and Galicia, on the whole. There was a rise amongst foreign visitors, above all, from the United Kingdom, Germany, USA-Canada and those from European countries outside the community. The drop in visitors from France, Portugal and Italy was particularly noteworthy.

Registered overnight stays in March 2012 totalled 306,023, 3% down on the same month of the previous year, that is, there were 8766 less overnight stays. There was a positive year-on-year change in Overnight stays in Álava, where they rose by 4%, but in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa they were down 5% and 3%, respectively.

The average stay remained practically unchanged compared to March 2011 both for the Basque Country as a whole and for each one of its provinces. The average stay in Álava stood at 1.82 days, in Bizkaia it was 1.81 days and in Gipuzkoa, 1.77 days. In the Basque Country as a whole it stood at 1.80 days in March 2012.

The bed occupancy rate was down 3%, and stood at 37.68% in March 2012 for the Basque Country as a whole. This drop only affected Bizkaia, which saw a decrease of 7%, going from 40.77% in March 2011 to 38.11% in March 2012. In Álava there was a slight positive change, where it went from from 35.70% in March 2011 to 35.85% in March 2012 and in Gipuzkoa there was a rise of 1%, with occupancy going from 37.66% in March 2011 to 38.01% in March 2012.

RURAL TOURISM

Visitor numbers rose by 9% and overnight stays were down 2%, compared to March 2011

In March this year there were 9349 registered visitors to rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which was a rise of 9% with respect to the visitors to rural tourism establishments in March 2011. By provinces, it was observed that in Álava and Bizkaia there were drops of 10% and 9%, respectively, whilst Gipuzkoa experienced a 26% rise in visitor numbers. Spanish visitors to the Basque Country were up 9%: They were down by 8% in Álava and 7% in Bizkaia, but rose by 24% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitor numbers were up by 18% in the Basque Country as a whole, rising significantly in Gipuzkoa, but dropping considerably in Álava and Bizkaia, all in percentage terms.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country stood at 17,790 in March, which was a reduction of 2% on the previous year, whilst the year-on-year figures for Gipuzkoa were positive, increasing by 9%, whereas in Álava they were down 8% and in Bizkaia they were down by 19%.

The average length of stay decreased in the Basque Country as a whole with respect to March 2011, going from 2.13 days one year ago to 1.90 days in March 2012. In Araba/Álava there was a rise of 3%, with the average stay going from 2.06 days in March 2011 to 2.12 days in March 2012; in Bizkaia there was a drop of 11%, with the average stay going from 2.33 days in March 2011 to 2.07 days in March 2012, and in Gipuzkoa there was a 14% reduction in the average stay, where it went from 2.06 days in March 2011 to 1.78 days in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate registered a fall of 6%, going from 15.34% occupancy to 14.38% as a result of the drops experienced in the provinces of Álava and Bizkaia which were down 14% and 17%, respectively. In Gipuzkoa, however, there was a rise of 2% in the bed occupancy rate, where it stood at 17.45% in March 2012.

Hotel and Rural Tourism Establishments in the Basque Country. Monthly results