Page last updated: 06 August 2024

San Francisco, located in California on the west coast of the United States, is known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, lively neighbourhoods, bustling Chinatown, and historic landmarks, making it a popular destination for travellers worldwide.

How many tourists visit San Francisco each year?

San Francisco consistently draws over 23 million visitors each year, excluding the pandemic period.1

us-san-francisco-inbound-visitors-annually-2024-forecast

How much do visitors spend in San Francisco every year?

Visitors spent a total of $8.8 billion in San Francisco in 2023, with international visitors contributing $4.64 billion to this figure.

us-san-francisco-inbound-expenditure-annually-2024-forecast

Where do visitors to San Francisco come from?

Oxford Economics’ 2022 and 2023 data indicated that the majority of visitors to San Francisco were from Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Germany. Although the precise numbers are unspecified, it’s clear that San Francisco’s appeal stretches across different continents.3

How many people visited San Francisco in 2022?

In 2022, San Francisco welcomed 21.9 million visitors, marking a 29% increase from 2021 but still 16% less than the 26.2 million in 2019.

How much did visitors spend in San Francisco in 2022?

Tourism spending in San Francisco reached $7.46 billion in 2022, which was 110% more than the $3.56 billion spent in 2021.

Despite this increase, tourist spending remained 22% lower than the pre-pandemic level of $9.56 billion in 2019.

Impact of Coronavirus – San Francisco Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

When is the best time to visit San Francisco?

What’s the best way to travel in San Francisco?

USA Travel Resources

What are the top tourist attractions in San Francisco?

How many days are needed to experience all that San Francisco has to offer?

Where are the best places to stay in San Francisco?

Is tourism up or down in San Francisco?

Whether tourism in San Francisco is up or down is a subject of debate. On one hand, there are indications of recovery and improvement within the tourism sector after the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the city’s perceived reputation, as viewed by some, is cited as having an impact and potentially “killing tourism across the Bay Area.”

Here are some key factors influencing tourists’ hesitation:

The city and tourism industry stakeholders are actively addressing these challenges through various measures, including:

While San Francisco faces challenges, it remains a city with incomparable attractions, vibrant culture, and beautiful landscapes. Awareness and action on these issues are key to revitalising its tourism industry and ensuring visitors can enjoy all that San Francisco has to offer.

US Travel Statistics Resources


References

  1. SFTravel: Visitor Volume and Direct Spending Estimates – 2022 ↩︎
  2. SFTravel: 2023 Visitor Impact Results and 2024 Forecast ↩︎
  3. SFTravel: International Visitor Volume and Spending – Top Market ↩︎