California Tourism Spending Reaches Record High

07.05.2024 - 18:49 / travelpulse.com / North America / Gavin Newsom / Laurie Baratti / Visit California

Governor Gavin Newsom and Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta just broke the news that California still retains the largest market share of tourism in the entire United States. According to new data released today, travel spending in the Golden State reached a record high of $150.4 billion in 2023, outstripping the previous record amount of $144.9 billion seen in 2019.

“From our world-renowned coastline, to the world’s tallest trees, to our iconic cities and theme parks, California is the nation’s coming attraction," Newsom said. "Visitors from all over the world are coming here to experience the wonder of the Golden State, boosting our economy and creating good-paying jobs for years to come.”

The new Economic Impact of Travel in California report, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates and released by Visit California, revealed 2023 tourism spending that’s 3.8 percent higher than in pre-pandemic 2019 and 5.6 percent higher than in 2022. On a county-specific level, spending also 

“California tourism is back where it belongs—setting records and providing for the workers, business owners and all Californians who depend on the travel industry as a cornerstone of our state’s economy," said Beteta. "The industry has once again proved its ability to recover from any challenge, whether it be economic or environmental. California continues to be the largest, most diverse and most resilient tourism economy in the United States.”

California's dominance in the tourism landscape was further evidenced by the record-breaking $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by visitors last year, which represents a three-percent increase over 2019. The sector also saw the creation of 64,900 new jobs in 2023, raising the industry’s total employment in the state to 1,155,000.

And, for the seventh year in a row, California maintained its status as the fifth-largest economy in the entire world. With a nominal GDP of almost $3.9 trillion in 2023 and a growth rate of 6.1% from the previous year, the state boasts the second-largest per capita GDP among major economies.

California's relative economic prowess remained unshaken, retaining its status as the world's fifth-largest economy for the seventh consecutive year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). With a nominal GDP in 2023 of almost $3.9 trillion and a growth rate of 6.1 percent over the previous year, the state boasts the second-largest per capita GDP among major economies. By comparison, India comes in sixth place and has the fastest-growing large economy in the world. 

In a testament to California's enduring appeal, Newsom noted an uptick in the number of people moving to the state, marking the state's first population increase since the