March 18, 2010
The 2009 tourism numbers have been tallied, and the results are grim.
Visitors to San Francisco spent 7.8 percent less in 2009 than they did in 2008, a record year.
While that figure is less than 8.8 percent drop in spending predicted by the U.S. Travel Association, it still equals bad news for San Francisco, which saw its tourism-generated tax revenue plummet 19.2 percent to $426 million in 2009.
“The data is not unexpected, but it’s especially disturbing in light of the importance of tourism to the economic health of San Francisco,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The global financial uncertainty has taken a toll on tourism in destinations across the country.”
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In all, some 15.4 million people came to San Francisco last year — 5.8 percent fewer than came in 2008 — and they spent $7.8 billion.
That spending, and those guests, supported 66,837 jobs last year.
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