Industry

Industry Information

Ventura County Coast (VCC) is a tourism brand encompassing the California cities of Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme. The brand is administered by the Ventura County Lodging Association (VCLA) comprised of more than 60 lodging partners and destination marketing organizations seeking to attract overnight business and leisure visitors to the region.

Quick Stats

These economic impacts are based on “statewide visitor trips,” which are defined as trips taken by individuals who stay overnight away from home or travel more than 50 miles one way on a non-routine trip. This definition of a visitor is derived from the California Tourism Marketing Act.

MAJOR TAKEAWAYS

2023 Economic Impact of Travel

  • Travel spending surpassed $150 billion in 2023, setting a record and marking full spending recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Spending exceeded 2019 levels in 34 out of 58 counties.
  • Three of California’s four international gateways – San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties – exceeded 2019 travel spending levels, while San Francisco was 97.2% recovered.
  • The $12.7 billion in state and local taxes generated by visitors in 2023 marked a 3% increase over 2019.
  • Taxes generated by travel in 2023 saved Californians $966 per household.
  • Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,155,000. That’s 98% of 2019 levels, before the pandemic shut down businesses and put more than 500,000 travel and hospitality workers out of work in a matter of days.
  • International visitors spent $24.3 billion in California in 2023, a 38% increase over 2022 and 15% below the $28.6 billion peak in 2018.

Ventura County – 2023 Economic Impact of Travel  

  • Travel and tourism are an economic engine for Ventura County. 
  • Spending in 16 counties declined year-over-year, while visitor spending in Ventura County increased 2.2%.
  • Travel spending in Ventura County increased 2.2% year-over-year totaling $1.87 billion in 2023.
  • Direct travel-generated employment increased by 5% totaling 16,810 jobs in 2023.
  • Direct travel earnings increased to $702 million, a gain of 11.5%.
  • Tax receipts generated by travel spending gained 2.2% totaling $162 million in 2023.
    • Local = $72 million
    • State = $90 million
      • Total = $162 million

*Data provided by Visit California and Dean Runyan Associates

Executive Committee

Victor Dollar

Chairman
Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor

Mellany Arbues

Treasurer
Sonesta Select Camarillo

Ruben Franco

Secretary
Holiday Inn Express Port Hueneme

Directors

Joseph Cabral

Best Western Oxnard Inn

Doug Pflaumer

Residence Inn by Marriott Camarillo

Tom LaVaccare

Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach

Pearl Feist

Ventura Beach Marriott

Akemi Shapiro

Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach

Patty Tewes

Residence Inn – Oxnard River Ridge

Marlyss Auster

Visit Ventura

Julie Mino Buffo

Visit Oxnard

Yuliana Gonzalez

Visit Camarillo

Administration

Brian Tucker

President & CEO
Ventura County Lodging Association

Jeannette Brown

Program and Administration Manager
Ventura County Lodging Association

Dave Lion

Director of Marketing & Communications
Ventura County Lodging Association

Kristal Silva

Communication & PR Specialist
Ventura County Lodging Association

Ashley Maxfeldt

Director, Client Services
The Brand Leader

Annual Report
COVID-19 Edition

Travel and tourism are a major economic engine for our destination. As a result of our collaborative culture and the implementation of our multi-phased marketing and advertising plan, our destination has outperformed many industry benchmarks. This COVID-19 Edition of our Annual Report details how the collaborative efforts of our destination have delivered a positive rebound from the unprecedented challenges we all faced as a result of COVID-19.

More Information

View and download assets to help you with your next meeting or creative project.

Get Involved

Local Vibe Nomination

Do you know someone who is an outstanding representative for our region? If you do, please nominate them for our local VIBE program. Self-nominations are also accepted.

Board Agendas

Access agendas for the VCLA Board of Directors meetings.

Research and Trends

Regional Data

Access the reports resulting from a unique partnership we created with Visa, Dean Runyan Associates and Visit California. The reports include annual and quarterly data analysis for international and domestic consumer behaviors and spending patterns in our region.

State Data

Access annual travel impact reports provided by our partners at Visit California.

Travel Matters

As the country’s most culturally and geographically diverse state, California offers an unparalleled wealth of experiences to travelers from around the globe. Year-round, those travelers fuel billions in economic impact, millions of jobs and power an industry leading the way into a more sustainable future.

Data Dashboard

Expanding on our partnership with Dean Runyan Associates (DRA) we are now able to provide a new interactive data dashboard. The dashboard includes travel impact data specific to our region.

Emergency Resources

Emergency Information

Please use this link as your direct resource for the latest official Ventura County emergency information.

Visit these regions of Ventura County Coast

Visit California
Camarillo
Oxnard
Ventura
Port Hueneme
Channel Islands National Park

Regions

Ventura County Coast

Ventura County Coast is a string of four communities that radiate warmth from welcoming people and California sunshine. The region embodies the casual and active spirit of classic, where the seafood is fresh, the beer is handcrafted and the weather is the kind you dream about. Spend the day exploring miles of beaches, incredible harbors or lush green golf courses. Hop on a boat for a day trip to the Channel Islands National Park, where you can see breathtaking views of the Southern California coastline. With a bustling culture, high end and vintage shopping, a lively culinary spirit and beautiful outdoor experiences, Ventura County Coast calls on every visitor to find their vibe. From hiking and biking to sailing and snorkeling, from shopping and dining to just plain relaxing, Ventura County Coast will fill your days with a lifetime of memories.

Camarillo

Camarillo

An hour north of Los Angeles, Camarillo is nestled at the base of the Conejo foothills surrounded by verdant green fields and cool ocean breezes. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, enjoy Camarillo alfresco. From outdoor shopping and concerts, to delicious dining and fun events, Camarillo has it all. With small town charm and a rich history, it is the place for romantic weddings and corporate venues. Visit the historical sites and museums during the day, and walk along Old Town for dinner and drinks at night. A great getaway for everyone, Camarillo is the ideal place to Come for the Sun, Stay for the Fun.

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Oxnard

Oxnard

Rally your tribe and head for the Central Coast. California cool, panorama-perfect, culturally authentic and vibrant beyond measure. Oxnard is home to miles of pristine white sand beaches, electric nightlife, some of the best taquerias in the state, historic Victorian era architecture, the California Strawberry Festival, and an expansively picturesque harbor that serves as the closest access point to the Channel Islands National Park. Just sixty miles northwest of LAX and in close proximity to Santa Barbara and other major destinations, Oxnard is one of California’s best kept secrets.

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Ventura

Ventura

A place that embodies a casual soul and unexpected allure, Ventura is a vibrant town that checks stress and pretense at the door.  Its artistic culture, enduring history and privileged locale is crazy-inviting, very much alive, and refreshingly human.

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Port Hueneme

Port Hueneme

Just sixty miles northwest of Los Angeles, in the heart of the Central Coast, you’ll find Port Hueneme, the friendly city by the sea. Port Hueneme is the place for travelers looking to dig their toes in the sand, take a long walk, drop a fishing line off the pier or just kick back and relax. With walking and biking trails winding throughout the city and a perfect climate almost year round, you can revive your soul in Hueneme.

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Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park is an American national park that consists of five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of the U.S. state of California, in the Pacific Ocean.

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