Friday, November 15, 2024 San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) marked a milestone 2024 fiscal year at its 70th Annual Meeting on November 13 at the revitalized Jacobs Music Center. The event, a gathering of more than 540 leaders in tourism, hospitality, and government, spotlighted the city’s significant achievements in economic growth and tourism. Highlighted were new visitor attraction statistics and international rankings underscoring San Diego’s thriving tourism industry.
For the fiscal year 2024, San Diego recorded an estimated 32 million visitors, a 2 million increase over the previous year, driving a remarkable $14.6 billion in direct local spending—a 2% rise from 2023. Steady tourism has boosted occupancy rates across San Diego’s hotels, which saw an average 73% occupancy rate in FY24, placing the city fourth in national rankings.
Notably, visitors extended their stays to nearly four nights on average, a full night longer than pre-pandemic patterns, enhancing hotel revenue and city transient occupancy tax (TOT) collections. The city’s transient occupancy tax generated a substantial $310 million, funds that will contribute to essential city services and community enhancements, reinforcing the tourism industry’s role in San Diego’s economic vitality. Through September, San Diego’s hotel occupancy maintained a strong 76%, outpacing major California cities like Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco.
“We’re pleased to report strong results for fisc.
