California Tourism Statistics

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.

In 2024, California welcomed a total of 16.52 million international tourists.

• The Golden State welcomed 17.4 million international visitors in 2019¹.
• However, like other states, California experienced a decline in tourist numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting lows of 3.7 million in 2020 and 5.14 million in 2021.
• In 2022, the visitor count made a remarkable turnaround, reaching upwards of 11.76 million. Following this trend, California received 14.99 million visitors in 2023.
• California welcomed 16.52 million international visitors in 2024, 1.53 million (10.2%) more than 2023 yet 5.3% below the pre-pandemic 2019 total.

How many people visited California in 2024?

• California saw 16.52 international visitors in 2024, an increase of 10.2% from 14.99 million arrivals in 2023.
• However, this figure remained 5.3% below the pre-pandemic year, 2019.

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).

• In 2024, international tourists were mostly from Mexico (7.22 million), followed by Canada (1.73 million), China (647,000) and the United Kingdom(630,000)²

• The tourism sector has generated $12.6 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2024, a 3.1% increase from $12.3 billion in 2023.
• Direct travel-generated employment saw a 2.1% increase, growing from 1,141,810 jobs in 2023 to 1,165,760 in 2024. This represents an addition of approximately 23,950 jobs compared to the previous year.
• Direct travel-generated earnings grew from $61.4 billion in 2023 to $65.0 billion in 2024, an increase of approximately $3.6 billion or 5.8%.
• California travel industry GDP of $98.2 billion in 2024 represented approximately 2.4% of the total California GDP.

• In 2024, leisure visitors made up the majority, with around 13.05 million visitors, a 4.2% increase over the last year. Leisure travelers spent $20.16 billion in 2024.
• The remaining 3.47 million visitors were business travelers, up 41.1% from 2023. They spent $5.87 billion during their visits.

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 2024, international tourism recovered to 16.52 million.
• Domestic visitation, which was at 263 million in 2018, also dropped in 2020 to 136.90 million but rebounded to 252.99 million in 2024.
• Total visitor numbers, combining international and domestic, followed a similar trend, with a decrease to 140.64 million in 2020 and a recovery to 269.51 million in 2024.

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 2024, it rose again to $26.04 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 $131.29 billion in 2024.
• Overall, total spending, which includes both international and domestic, hit a low of $68.30 billion in 2020 but reached $157.34 billion in 2024.

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.