California Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 13 March 2024

California, known as “The Golden State”, consistently attracts tourists worldwide. With its sprawling beaches, iconic cities, and diverse landscapes, it’s no surprise that the state has continued to draw in millions of visitors each year.

How many people visit California every year?

In 2023, California welcomed a total of 14.99 million international tourists. 

• In 2017, the Golden State welcomed 17.6 million international visitors. Approximately, 17.4 million visitors were welcomed in 2019, but the record was set in 2018 with 18.2 million visitors.¹

• However, like other states, California experienced a sharp decline in tourist numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting lows of 3.7 million in 2020 and 5.2 million in 2021.

• In 2022, the visitor count of California made a remarkable turnaround, with over 11.5 million.  Following this trend, California received 14.99 million visitors in 2023.

How much do international visitors spend in California every year?

In 2023, international tourists visiting California spent about $22.55 billion.

• Visitor spending increased from $27.1 billion in 2017 to $28 billion in both 2018 and 2019.

• The years 2020 and 2021 saw a downturn in spending due to reduced international tourism, with expenditures falling to $5.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively.

• By 2022, spending rebounded to approximately $17 billion but is yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.
  
• In 2023, international spending increased by 27% and reached $22.5 billion.

Where do international visitors to California come from?

• In 2018, international tourists were mostly from Mexico (8 million), followed by Canada (1.7 million), China (1.6 million) and the United Kingdom (751,000).²

California Travel Resources

How many people visited California in 2023?

• The state welcomed 14.99 million international visitors in 2023. This marked a remarkable 28% increase from 2022 (11.76 million). 
  
  

How much did visitors spend in California in 2023?

• Visitor expenditure in 2023 rebounded to approximately $22.5 billion. This spending represented a 28% increase from 2022 ($17.58 billion).

• Despite this improvement, spending in 2023 remained 20% lower than the $28.1 billion recorded in 2019.

Impact of Coronavirus on California Tourism

• California’s international visitor numbers decrease by 79% to 3.7 million in 2020. Although there was a slight uptick to 5.2 million visitors in 2021, this was still far below pre-pandemic levels.

• Tourist spending followed a similar trend. After maintaining around $28 billion in 2018 and 2019, expenditure dropped by 81% to $5.3 billion in 2020. In 2021, spending slightly increased to $5.4 billion.

International and Domestic Tourism Statistics of California

International and Domestic Visitors

• International visitor numbers peaked in 2018 at 18.2 million and declined during the pandemic to 3.74 million in 2020. By 2023, international tourism recovered to 14.99 million. 

• Domestic visitation, which was at 263 million in 2018, also dropped in 2020 to 136.90 million but rebounded to 248.90 million in 2023. 

• Total visitor numbers, combining international and domestic, followed a similar trend, with a decrease to 140.64 million in 2020 and a recovery to 263.89 million in 2023.

International and Domestic Visitors in California
Year	International Tourists (in millions)	Domestic Tourists (in millions)	Total Tourists (in millions)
2018	18.20	263.00	281.20
2019	17.45	268.10	285.55
2020	3.74	136.90	140.64
2021	5.14	208.30	213.44
2022	11.76	247.30	259.06
2023	14.99	248.90	263.89

International and Domestic Tourists Spending

• International spending in California was $28.57 billion in 2018, but due to the pandemic, it fell to $5.3 billion in 2020. By 2023, it rose again to $22.55 billion.
  
• Domestic spending showed a similar trend. Domestic visitors spent $112 billion in 2018, but this dropped to $63 billion in 2020 and climbed back to $127.9 billion in 2023.
  
• Overall, total spending, which includes both international and domestic, hit a low of $68.30 billion in 2020 but reached $150.45 billion in 2023.

International and Domestic Tourists Spending in California
Year	International Spending (in billions)	Domestic Spending (in billions)	Total Spending (in billions)
2018	$28.57	$112.00	140.57
2019	$28.14	$116.70	144.84
2020	$5.30	$63.00	68.30
2021	$5.17	$99.90	105.07
2022	$17.59	$124.90	142.49
2023	$22.55	$127.90	150.45

Top Attractions in California

California is home to a variety of must-see attractions that cater to all sorts of travellers.

• Disneyland: The iconic theme park in Anaheim offers entertainment for the whole family.

• Yosemite National Park: Known for stunning waterfalls, immense sequoias, and majestic rock formations like El Capitan.

• Golden Gate Bridge: A marvel of engineering and an iconic symbol of San Francisco.

• Universal Studios Hollywood: A theme park that offers an experience of the magic of filmmaking with a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood.

• San Diego: Known for its lovely sunny weather, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and numerous beaches.

California Travel Statistics Resources

• Los Angeles Statistics
• San Diego Statistics
• San Francisco Statistics
  
  

America & USA Travel Statistics Resources

• Arizona Statistics (incl. Grand Canyon National Park)
• Canada Statistics (incl. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver)
• Colorado Statistics (incl. Denver)
• Florida Statistics (incl. Destin, Key West, Miami, Orlando)
• Hawaii Statistics (incl. Kauai, Maui, Oahu)
• Illinois Statistics (incl. Chicago)
• Louisiana Statistics (incl. New Orleans)
• Massachusetts Statistics (incl. Boston)
• Mexico Statistics (incl. Cancun)
• Nevada Statistics (incl. Las Vegas)
• New York Statistics (incl. New York City)
• Panama Statistics
• Peru Statistics (incl. Machu Picchu)
• South Dakota Statistics (incl. Mount Rushmore)
• Tennessee Statistics (incl. Memphis, Nashville)
• Texas Statistics (incl. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)
• Utah Statistics
• Washington Statistics (incl. Seattle)

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References

1. VC: California Key figures and Tourism Statistics – Annually ↩︎
2. TMCA: 2018 International Travel to California – Top Market ↩︎