Travel Helps Power the Economy
In 2024, San Diego welcomed 32.5 million visitors, which led to $14.8 billion in visitor spending across our hotels, renowned cultural institutions, world-class attractions, small businesses, restaurants, and bars. In fiscal year 2024, the tourism industry generated $418 million towards San Diego County's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues through visitor spending, supporting critical local services such as police, fire, and emergency responders. Moreover, it is estimated that total tax revenue generated by tourism, including sales, property, and other taxes helps lower the average tax burden on households in the county by nearly $1,000 annually.
Business travel continued to drive solid demand throughout the region in 2024, and international inbound spending continued to recover. However, current forecasts for business travel have become blurrier, while the recovery in international traveler arrivals to San Diego have been pushed out from 2025 to 2029 amid global economic uncertainties.
Each year we join the U.S. Travel Association in celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW), as tourism professionals in the United States unite to celebrate the value travel holds for the economy, businesses and travel-related employment across the nation. We invite you to learn more about why travel matters to San Diego on this site and how you can become an advocate for the industry in your local community.
Below you will find useful information to help tell the San Diego tourism story: Fact sheets, social media assets, suggested copy and infographics that help share the impact tourism has on the San Diego region.
