Life

There were 206,125 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in May 2012, 2,207 up on the same month of the previous year, which is an increase of 1%, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors increased by 6% in Bizkaia, but dropped 5% in Álava and 3% in Gipuzkoa.

Numbers of visitors from Spain fell by 4% in the Basque Country as a whole. There was a rise in visitors from within Spain in Bizkaia, where they increased by 2%, however in Álava they were down by 4% and in Gipuzkoa they fell by 11%. The number of foreign visitors to the Basque Country was up by 10%. In Álava they were down by 8%, but in Bizkaia they rose 15% and in Gipuzkoa they increased by 9%.

Amongst travellers from other Autonomous Communities there was a greater percentage increase in those coming from Catalonia, Andalusia and Galicia, whilst there was a decrease in those coming from Madrid, the Balearics, Castilla-La-Mancha and from the Basque Country, on the whole. Amongst travellers from abroad, there was a rise mainly in those coming from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Latin America. There was a noticeable drop in those coming from Holland, the USA and Canada.

Registered overnight stays in May 2012 totalled 389,082, which was 4% up on the same month of the previous year, that is, there were 13,601 more overnight stays. There was a positive year-on-year change in overnight stays in Álava, where they rose by 3% and in Bizkaia, where they were up 9%, but in Gipuzkoa they were down 3%.

The average length of stay increased by 3% with respect to May 2011 for the Basque Country as a whole, going from 1.84 days in May 2011 to 1.89 days in May 2012. In Álava the average stay in May 2012 was 1.91 days compared to the 1.76 days recorded in May 2011; in Bizkaia it went from 1.85 days to 1.89 and in Gipuzkoa the average stay was 1.87 days, which was a repeat of the figures for May 2011.

The bed occupancy rate was up 4%, and stood at 47.66% in May 2012 for the Basque Country as a whole. This drop particularly affected Bizkaia, where there was an increase of 9%, going from 45.03% in May 2011 to 49.11% in May 2012. In Gipuzkoa there was a slight positive change, where it went from 48.81% in May 2011 to 49.27% in May 2012 and in Álava there was a slight drop which was barely noticeable, with occupancy going from 40.31% in May 2011 to 40.23% in May 2012.

Rural tourism

In May this year there were 10,085 registered visitors to rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country, which was a rise of 2% with respect to the visitors to rural tourism establishments in May 2011. By provinces, it was observed that in Gipuzkoa there was a drop of 3%, whilst in Bizkaia there was no noticeable change (0%) and in Álava there was an increase of 21%. There was a 1% decrease in visitors from within Spain to the Basque Country: they were up 13% in Álava and 2% in Bizkaia, but they were down 7% in Gipuzkoa. Foreign visitor numbers were up by 25% in the Basque Country as a whole, rising significantly in Álava and Gipuzkoa, but dropping in Bizkaia, all in percentage terms.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments in the Basque Country stood at 19,868 in May, which was a reduction of 7% on the previous year, with year-on-year growth figures positive in Álava, where they were up 1%, whereas in Bizkaia they were down 11% and in Gipuzkoa they fell by 8%.

The average length of stay decreased in the Basque Country as a whole with respect to May 2011, going from 2.17 days one year ago to 1.97 days in May 2012. In Álava there was a drop of 16%, with the average stay going from 2.27 days in May 2011 to 1.90 days in May 2012; in Bizkaia the drop was 11%, with the average stay going from 2.24 days in May 2011 to 1.99 days in May 2012, and in Gipuzkoa there was a 5% reduction in the average stay, where it went from 2.09 days in May 2011 to 1.99 days in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate registered a fall of 8%, going from 17.12% occupancy to 15.75% as a result of the drops experienced in the provinces of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa which were down 8% and 12%, respectively. In Álava, however, there was a rise of 2%.