California Travel-Related Spend & Visitation Forecast

International visitors to California spent more than $28.1 billion in 2019, a -0.6% decrease from 2018. Visitors from Mexico (including land and air) spent $4.2 billion in California, making Mexico California's top international market in terms of spending, followed by the China ($4.02 billion) and Canada ($3.2 billion)

Note: The data shown above does not include expected impacts from Coronavirus.

In 2019 California welcomed more than 17.9 million international visitors, a -1.2% decrease from 2018. California's top international market in terms of visitation was Mexico with 7.7 million total visitors (including land and air). Markets with next highest levels of visitation were Canada (1.7 million visitors) and China (1.5 million visitors). 

Note: The data shown above does not include expected impacts from Coronavirus.

On the domestic front, while economic momentum will slow, job growth and wage growth remain solid and consumer sentiment remains upbeat, providing a foundation for solid growth in the leisure segment. Domestic visitor travel spending in California reached $116.9 billion in 2019, a 4.1% increase from 2018. 

Visitation to California grew 1.8% in 2019, welcoming more than 268.1 million visitors.