2023: California Tourism Surges to Record High, Boosting Local Economies in Sacramento and Placer County

In 2023, tourism revenue in California hit a record high of over $150 billion, exceeding the previous year’s record. The local economy in Sacramento is also benefiting significantly from tourism, with events such as rock concerts and food festivals contributing to its growth. Visit Sacramento CEO Mike Testa stated that the city’s attractions, including the state capitol and gold rush history, have always drawn visitors but the addition of new events like conventions, music, and food festivals are bringing even more people to Sacramento.

Placer County is also expanding its tourism offerings by hosting sports tournaments for a variety of interests such as volleyball, basketball and pickleball. According to CEO Kim Summers of Placer Valley Tourism, large tournaments draw thousands of out-of-state competitors and contribute significantly to the local economy.

Both Sacramento and Placer acknowledge the need for more tourism infrastructure to accommodate larger events. A shortage of hotel rooms is a concern for Sacramento while Placer County lacks facilities to host more events. Some popular festivals like Aftershock rock festival and GoldenSky country music festival are expanding due to growing demand.

The thriving tourism industry in California can be attributed to a diverse range of events that attract visitors and contribute significantly to the local economy. Efforts will continue to enhance tourism infrastructure will further boost the state’s tourism revenue and benefit both residents and tourists alike.