Tourism Industry Facts

• The visitor industry employs directly and indirectly 194,000 San Diegans.
• Visitors spend nearly $11.5 billion annually.
• San Diego hosts nearly 35.8 million visitors each year, and is a top U.S. travel destination.
• The industry generates $940 million annually in state and local transient occupancy, sales, and property taxes.

For more of the facts about the industry, see General Facts and Fast Facts.

Overall Industry Performance

An overview of industry volume and performance, including visitors, spending, attraction attendance, air arrivals, hotel performance and other key industry metrics.

• 2019 San Diego County Visitor Industry Summary by Month - November 2019
• 2018 San Diego County Visitor Industry Summary by Month
• San Diego Visitor Industry Summary (Annual)
• Latest International Visitation data
• San Diego International Airport Information - 2018 SAN Overview
  View the top 150 domestic markets served, and direct and connecting service to international destinations. For specific flight schedule information, go to www.SAN.org.

Lodging Performance

• New Hotel Development Report - Updated December 2019
• San Diego County TOT Collections Trend FY19

Travel Industry Forecast

• San Diego County Travel Forecast - Updated December 2019

Visitor Profile

The San Diego Visitor Profile Study is conducted every other year to track the characteristics of the market and the traveler. Of the 35 million total visitors in 2017, more than half (18 million) stayed overnight in a hotel, a private home, or other accommodations. It is possible to purchase further detail from the study to support your marketing efforts given that the study sample is large enough for your needs and the questions are relevant. The next update to the profile will be available summer 2020.

• Overnight Leisure and Business Profile

State and U.S. Research Resources

• State of California Industry Research
• U.S. Travel Association Industry Research

Email requests or questions regarding any of the research to the analyst of the Planning and Research Department, Niki McDonald at nmcdonald@sandiego.org