San Diego Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 2 January 2025

San Diego, often called “America’s Finest City,” is known for its pleasant climate and diverse attractions including Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and beautiful beaches.

How many tourists visit San Diego each year?

Over 30 million tourists (both international and domestic) visit San Diego in recent years.

• In 2019, San Diego welcomed 36.2 million visitors. However, this number decreased to 14.3 million visitors in 2020  and 24.0 million in 2021 due to the pandemic. This indicated a 60% and 34% decrease compared to 2019 respectively.¹

• In 2022, the number of visitors to San Diego made a remarkable turnaround, reaching 28.8 million, a 20% increase compared to 2021.

• This trend continued in 2023 when San Diego welcomed over 30 million visitors.

• In 2024, San Diego welcomed 32.5 million total visitors, approaching pre-pandemic levels.

How many people visited San Diego in 2024?

• San Diego welcomed 32.5 million tourists in 2024.This represents an 8.3% increase from 2023’s 30.0 million visitors, and stands 10% below the pre-pandemic peak of 36.2 million in 2019.

How many people visited Arts and Museums in San Diego in 2024?

• Over 2.6 million tourists visited Arts and Museums in San Diego in 2024. This was a 2.8% decrease compared to the previous year, but still 17% less than 2019.

How many people visited attractions in San Diego in 2024?

• 14.4 million tourists visited attractions such as zoos and parks in San Diego in 2023. This was a 3.9% increase over the previous year but still 5% less than 2019.

How much do people spend in San Diego each year?

Tourists (both international and domestic) spend over $14 billion each year in San Diego.

• San Diego generated approximately $11.6 billion in tourism expenditure in 2019. Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, tourism spending decreased to $5.2 billion.

• In 2021, San Diego’s  tourism spending recovered to $7.4 billion. By 2022, tourism spending in San Diego had increased to $13.6 billion, an 84% increase compared to the previous year and 17% higher than 2019 (pre-pandemic year).

• Tourists spent over $14.2 billion in San Diego in 2023.

• In 2024, tourists generated approximately $14.8 billion in spending, representing 4% growth from 2023.

How much did tourists spend in San Diego in 2024?

Tourists spent $14.8 billion in San Diego in 2024.

• This represents a 4% increase from 2023 and stands 28% higher than the pre-pandemic figure of $11.6 billion in 2019.

How much did tourists spend in San Diego in 2023?

• Tourism expenditure reached $14.2 billion in 2023 surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic tourism expenditure figure. This represented a 5% increase compared to the previous year and was 23% higher than 2019.

How much does it cost to visit San Diego?

The average cost to visit San Diego is approximately $455 per trip in 2024.

• Domestic visitors: Approximately $400-500 per trip (averaging $150-250 per day for 3-4 nights)

• International visitors: Approximately $500-600 per trip (averaging $150-250 per day for 5-7 nights)

• Hotel rates: Average daily rate of $211 per night in 2024

• Major attraction: San Diego Zoo tickets are approximately $65 per person

Where do visitors to San Diego come from?

In 2024, international tourists to San Diego were mostly from Mexico (over 6 million visitors, including day trips).

• Followed by Canada with approximately 250,000 visitors, the United Kingdom with approximately 100,000 visitors, and China with approximately 30,000 visitors.

How long do visitors stay in San Diego?

Visitors stay an average of approximately 4 days in San Diego in 2024.

• Domestic visitors: Stay approximately 3-4 nights on average, typically for weekend breaks and week-long vacations.

• International visitors: Stay around 5-7 nights on average, often as part of a broader California tour or extended U.S. trip.

What were San Diego’s peak tourist months?

July was the peak tourist month in San Diego in 2024.

• July was the busiest month with approximately 4.06 million visitors in 2024, followed by August with 3.9 million, June with 3.48 million, and May with 2.66 million.

When is the best time to visit San Diego?

• The best time to visit San Diego is during Spring, March to May, and Fall, September to November.
  
• During these months, the weather is mild, crowds are smaller, and accommodations can be cheaper.
  
• Summer, June to August, is the peak season for tourism in San Diego. Due to its popularity, attractions are usually crowded and accommodations can be expensive.

California & US Travel Resources

How popular is San Diego as a tourist destination?

San Diego continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the most desirable travel destinations in the United States, combining its beautiful coastline, cultural diversity, and thriving culinary scene.

2025

• San Diego was once again celebrated for its coastal charm and visitor experience, maintaining nominations for “North America’s Leading Beach Destination” at the World Travel Awards 2025.

• Ranked among the Top 15 U.S. Destinations in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2024.

• Named the #10 Food Destinations in the U.S., spotlighting San Diego’s rise as a culinary hub with a mix of fine dining, coastal cuisine, and award-winning breweries.

• La Jolla Cove ranked #5 Best Beach in the U.S., reinforcing San Diego’s global reputation as a premier coastal getaway.

2024

• Earned the prestigious title of #2 “Big City in America”, the highest ranking San Diego has ever achieved in the publication’s history.

• Tourism in San Diego surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, recording all-time highs in visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy, and tourism spending.

Why do tourists visit San Diego?

San Diego attracts visitors primarily for leisure travel (85%), with tourists enjoying its beaches, world-class attractions, and outdoor activities in 2024.

• Business & Convention travel accounts for 13% of visitors, attending major conferences and conventions

• Other purposes (Military, education) represent 2% of visitors

Economic Impact – San Diego Tourism Statistics

• Tourism contributed 13-14% to San Diego’s GDP in 2024. The sector supports approximately 205,000 jobs across the industry. San Diego generated $14.8 billion from all visitors in 2024. 

What are the top attractions in San Diego?

• Balboa Park is home to San Diego Zoo and 17 more museums, attracting 14 million visitors each year.
  
• San Diego Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the world with more than 3,700 animals, attracts over 4 million visitors annually.
  
• USS Midway Museum is one of the most visited museums in San Diego offering naval development history (1 million visitors each year).
  
• Gaslamp Quarter is a popular historic district in San Diego welcoming over 4 million visitors annually. It offers dining, shopping and a vibrant urban setting for tourists.
  
• Old Town State Park is a history site attracting over 3 million visitors each year showcasing the early Mexican and American history of San Diego.

California Travel Statistics Resources

• San Francisco Statistics
• Los Angeles 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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Reference

1. SDIR: San Diego Tourism Industry Statistics Summary ↩︎