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
Mellany Arbues
Ruben Franco
Directors
Joseph Cabral
Doug Pflaumer
Tom LaVaccare
Pearl Feist
Akemi Shapiro
Patty Tewes
Marlyss Auster
Julie Mino Buffo
Yuliana Gonzalez
Administration
Brian Tucker
Jeannette Brown
Dave Lion
Kristal Silva
Ashley Maxfeldt
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
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