Press Release 22/08/2012

SURVEY ON TOURISTESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) JULY 2012

The number of visitors to the Basque Country was down 2.7% in July 2012

There was a drop of 1.3% in overnight stays

There were 256,867 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in July 2012, 7,178 down on the same month of the previous year, which is a decrease of 2.7%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors fell by 1.5% in Álava, 0.8% in Bizkaia and 5.6% in Gipuzkoa.

Numbers of visitors from Spain were down by 11% in the Basque Country as a whole. Spanish visitors reduced their presence in the three provinces, falling by 6.8% en Álava, 9.7% in Bizkaia and 15.0% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitors, however, were up by 9.9% in the Basque Country. In Álava they increased by 8.6%, in Bizkaia they rose by 13.6% and in Gipuzkoa they were up by 6.4%.

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

Registered overnight stays in July 2012 totalled 509,315, which was 1.3% down on the same month of the previous year, that is, there were 6,645 fewer overnight stays. Overnight stays experienced a positive year-on-year evolution in Álava, where they were up by 7.3%, but they fell in the other two provinces: in Bizkaia they were down by 1.2% and in Gipuzkoa they were down by 4.3%.

The average length of stay increased by 1.5% with respect to July 2011 for the Basque Country as a whole, going from 1.95 days in July 2011 to 1.98 days in July 2012. In Álava the average stay was 1.86 days compared to the 1.71 days recorded in July 2011; in Bizkaia it went from 1.92 days to 1.91 this July and in Gipuzkoa the average stay was 2.13 days, compared to the 2.10 days in July 2011.

There was no appreciable variation in the bed occupancy rate, where it remained at 60.36% in July 2012 for the Basque Country as a whole. In Álava it went from 50.57% occupancy in July 2011 to 52.53% this July. In Bizkaia the bed occupancy rate also increased, going from 57.95% occupancy in July 2011 to 58.32% in July of this year. In Gipuzkoa, however, there was a negative change, where it went from 68.81% in July 2011 to 66.98% in July 2012.

RURAL TOURISM

Visitor numbers rose by 12.4% and overnight stays were up 9.9%, compared to July 2011

In July this year there were 17,013 registered visitors to rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which was a rise of 12.4% with respect to the visitors to rural tourism establishments in July 2011. By provinces, it was observed that in Álava, on the other hand, there was a drop of 9.1%, whilst in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa there were rises of 18.6% and 15.7%, respectively. There was a rise amongst Spanish visitors of 4.3% in the Basque Country: they were down 12.4% in Álava, but up 13.1% in Bizkaia and 4.8% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitor numbers were up by 66.0% in the Basque Country as a whole, rising significantly in the three provinces, all in percentage terms.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country stood at 52,401 in July, which was an increase of 9.9% on the previous year, with positive year-on-year figures for Bizkaia (19.9%) and Gipuzkoa (9.4%), although they fell by 7.1% in Álava.

The average length of stay per visitor decreased in the Basque Country as a whole with respect to July 2011, going from 3.15 days one year ago to 3.08 days in July 2012. In Álava there was a rise of 1.9%, with the average stay going from 2.59 days in July 2011 to 2.64 days in July 2012; in Bizkaia the rise was 1.1%, with the average stay going from 2.81 days in July 2011 to 2.84 days in July 2012, but in Gipuzkoa the average stay was down by 5.4%, going from 3.52 days in July 2011 to 3.33 days for the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate registered an increase of 8.2%, going from 37.70% occupancy to 40.80% as a result of the rises experienced in the provinces of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, which were up 19.6% and 3.4%, respectively. Álava, however, experienced a drop of 2%.

For further information:

Euskal Estatistika-Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística 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 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 Further press releases on the Internet: EETR - Survey ontourist establishments Databank: EETR - Survey on tourist establishments