San Diego Sees Record 32 Million Visitors with a Stunning $22 Billion Economic Impact

The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) announced a remarkable achievement for the fiscal year 2024, welcoming around 32 million visitors—a 2 million increase from the previous year. This surge contributed significantly to the local economy, with visitors spending a record $14.6 billion.

The announcement, made during the SDTA’s 70th Annual Meeting on November 13, 2024, highlighted the city’s average hotel occupancy rate of 73 percent, along with an impressive 76 percent occupancy rate for the year, outperforming larger California cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Julie Coker, president and CEO of the SDTA, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that these results underscored San Diego’s attractiveness as both a business and leisure destination. She emphasized the community’s dedication to providing memorable experiences for visitors, encouraging them to return.

In a significant move to further enhance tourism and community impact, the SDTA introduced the San Diego Tourism Foundation. This new charitable organization aims to empower small businesses, develop the workforce, and promote sustainable destination stewardship. Theresa Cunningham, the SDTA Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, shared that the foundation’s goal is to create an equitable and sustainable environment for all while also diversifying and strengthening the local economy.

Notably, the tourism sector in San Diego generated a record $22 billion in economic impact throughout fiscal year 2024, supporting over one in eight jobs within the region. This growth underscores the industry’s critical role in regional development and the ongoing funding of essential local services.

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