2015 a Record-Breaking Year for San Diego's Tourism Economy

Tourism officials expect 2015 to break records all across the San Diego economy.

The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) says the region will surpass last year’s record-breaking totals in each significant sector. This includes the number of people traveling to San Diego for a visit in 2015, hotel tax revenue, as well as increased tourist spending on local attractions, shops and restaurants.

In 2015 alone, the SDTA is projecting $9.9 billion worth of visitor spending. The total amount of visitors will likely reach 34.2 million, and 16.9 million hotel room nights will be sold.

These record numbers finish off a booming year for San Diego tourism, according to the SDTA. In July, they announced that 1 million convention rooms were booked in 2015. This fiscal year marks a 10-year high in convention bookings.

The SDTA says that San Diego is one of only four cities on the globe to earn the title of β€œWorld’s Smart City” by the National Geographic Channel (NGC). The NGC presented a one-hour documentary specifically focused on San Diego and its culture of innovation and technology. In the film, the region is spotlighted for its high quality of life.

"We're very encouraged by the growth of San Diego's tourism economy over the past couple of years," said Joe Terzi, President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. "And every San Diegan has a stake in the success of this important industry.”

β€œOur ability to attract more travelers benefits the entire region through increased spending at our business establishments and more hotel tax revenue that the city can use for police, fire and other important services."

Back in February, the SDTA released an $8.9 million advertising campaign. Their advertising efforts have continued across the international marketplace ranging from the U.K., Germany, China, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

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