San Francisco welcomed 23.1 million tourists in 2023—a 5.2% increase from the previous year. The overall amount of spending linked to tourists in the city was USD 9.3 billion, indicating a large economic contribution from these visitors. Notably, visitor spending increased by 18% to USD 8.8 billion, while exhibitor and meeting planner expenditure added another USD 494.6 million.
The San Francisco Travel Association held its yearly Marketing Conference at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. They used this event to share their 2023 visitor impact numbers. They’re the principal group promoting visiting the city and county of San Francisco. Also, they peeked into what 2024 might look like. The conference included talks on destination sales and marketing activities, as well as how AI and other cutting-edge technology are influencing the guest experience.
Impact of 2023 Visitors: San Francisco welcomed 23.1 million tourists in 2023, a 5.2% rise from the previous year. The overall amount of expenditure linked to tourists in the city was USD 9.3 billion, indicating a large economic contribution from these visitors. Notably, visitor spending increased by 18% to USD 8.8 billion, while exhibitor and meeting planner expenditure added another USD 494.6 million.
Strong convention activity was a major factor in lodging increases, as seen by the notable rise in hotel room nights attributable to attendees of events held at Moscone Center. 618,298 hotel nights were booked during this surge, an increase of 82.6 percent over the prior year.
San Francisco Travel forecasts more growth in its tourism sector and total visitor spending in 2024. The growth is anticipated due to an increase in business trips and vacations. The city expects to welcome over 23.7 million tourists. The foreign tourists are expected to contribute USD 5 billion to the total anticipated visitor spending of USD 9.45 billion.
Key projections for 2024:
– They say 65% of hotel rooms will be occupied.
– The day-to-day cost (ADR) should increase by 3.3%, reaching USD 251.91.
– There’s an anticipated 4.7% bump in the money made per room (RevPAR), pushing it to USD 163.82.
Scott Beck, the President and CEO of San Francisco Travel noted the powerful impact that conventions and events have on the city’s economy. He stressed the importance of attracting more of these to San Francisco.
Mayor London Breed shared her joy as more visitors flock back to the city. She emphasized the ongoing efforts to ensure San Francisco remains a welcoming, safe, and vibrant place for all travelers.
San Francisco Airports and Overseas Visitors: A surge of 26% in 2023 made our foreign guests a big player in SF’s tourism resurgence. Interesting to note, China returned as the biggest spender among our overseas market.
In 2023, there was a huge jump in passenger traffic at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The numbers grew by an impressive 18.7%, bombarding the airport with more than 50 million happy faces. That’s not all. SFO also boosted its reach globally. It rolled out several fresh services to connect with major places outside the U.S., along with reviving some old ones.
The group for San Francisco Travel feels positive about the city’s tourism bouncing back. They foresee that tourist numbers and spending will match the pre-Covid-19 levels by 2026 and 2025 in that order. By the start of 2027, they predict that San Francisco’s tourism economy should have fully rebounded.
