Tourism in Northern California has been slowly recovering since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with some counties faring better than others. According to a report released by Visit California, out of 58 California counties, 34 have fully recovered in terms of travel spending, but Sacramento and other Northern California counties still lag behind.
In 2023, the Golden State generated a record-breaking $150.4 billion in travel spending, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. Top travel destinations included Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County, and the Central Coast, which contributed 75.1% of direct travel spending in the state.
In Sacramento County alone, tourists spent approximately $4.3 billion in 2023, a 4.5% increase from the previous year. This resulted in $323 million in state and local tax revenue, creating a total of 34,810 jobs in the county.
Other Northern California counties also saw an increase in visitor spending, with El Dorado County experiencing a 3% increase to about $1.1 billion, and Placer County seeing a 1% increase to $1.4 billion in 2023.
While tourism in Yolo County has fully recovered since the pandemic, Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer counties are almost fully recovered, falling in a 95% to 99% recovery index according to Visit California.
Overall, the economic impact of travel in California has been significant, providing earnings, employment, and taxes throughout the state. With tourism slowly rebounding, Northern California counties are hopeful for a full recovery in the near future.