TEMECULA, CA — Temecula Valley tourism is successfully rebounding from pandemic losses that severely impacted the region, according to new data released Tuesday.
Figures announced by Visit Temecula Valley show that in 2022, the most recent timeframe for which data are available, travel spending in the region jumped to $999.7 million, which is near the record-high $1.1 billion level reached in 2018.
Last year’s numbers show a steady rise in the valley’s economic activity that was temporarily disrupted by the pandemic: travel spending is up 46.2% from $684 million in 2021, according to VTV, which serves as the region’s tourism arm.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Temecula Valley welcomed approximately 3.2 million visitors in 2022, a 28 percent increase from 2.5 million in 2021. This includes overnight visitors from more than a 50-mile distance, VTV announced.
Temecula Valley includes the city of Temecula and the surrounding wine district, also known as Southern California Wine Country. The VTV report, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates, measures economic activity associated with travel-related spending, employment, earnings and taxes.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Tourism is essential to the economic stability of the Temecula Valley and there is reason for optimism, according to Scott A. Wilson, VTV CEO.
“We expect 2023 to exceed 2022 as the recovery continues and as international travelers continue to re-enter the market,” Wilson said.
The new VTV report highlighted key increases:
“Temecula Valley tourism is a top economic driver in the region,” said Michael Feeley, Visit Temecula Valley chairman of the board and executive director of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “Spending on travel-related activities fuels the local economy, helps sustain local businesses, supports thousands of jobs, and brings in tax revenue.”
The VTV data include the economic impact of Pechanga Resort Casino, which is one of the largest resort/casinos in the United States.
Read this archive article to learn more about how the pandemic affected Temecula Valley tourism: Coronavirus Hit To Temecula’s $1 Billion Tourism Industry
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: brisbane lions guernsey 2019