National Tourism Week, which will be observed May 10 through May 18, is an event that is celebrated throughout the United States and is like the Fourth of July for the tourism industry.
It is a time when the tourism industry joins in solidarity to remind Americans that travel and tourism is big business and that it is the core of the economy for many cities throughout the U.S. Carlsbad is no exception.
Faced with an ambiguous economy, the 2008 tourism industry, according to many, looks to be one of cautious optimism. Even with all of the difficulties the industry has faced over this last year with the high cost of fuel, the mortgage crisis and the loss of consumer confidence, San Diego County continues to remain one of the top travel destinations in the country.
The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that the leisure travel market, which is the region's largest travel segment, is expected to again lead the industry in the coming year. This year, the total number of visitors to San Diego is projected to reach 32 million, an increase of 1.8 percent over 2007 estimates. Overall visitor spending is estimated to hit the $8.1 billion mark, representing a 4 percent increase over 2007 projected spending figures. While the hotel meetings segment will not grow markedly this year, it should remain solid, barring any dramatic economic downturn.
“The creation of San Diego's Tourism Marketing District and the additional revenue it will generate could not have come at a more crucial time as it will greatly enhance our ability to effectively market our region,” said David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO of San Diego ConVis. “San Diego's product is evolving and the offerings are relevant and desired by travelers around the world. More advertising dollars will generate a buzz about San Diego that will translate into greater visitation and higher visitor spending.”
The eyes of the world will be on our region in June during the prestigious U.S. Open PGA golf tournament in Torrey Pines. In addition, LEGOLAND and SeaWorld are opening new exhibits this year. Also, a separate attraction will open adjacent to LEGOLAND later this year. Sea Life is a two-story, 36,000-square-foot aquarium designed to educate children about life under the sea.
So what does all of this mean for our local tourism industry in Carlsbad? Our community will no doubt benefit from San Diego's impressive efforts to market the region as we are indeed fortunate to be in a highly desirable location. If Carlsbad's popularity and ranking as a part of this region are any indication, then the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau has done its job very well in promoting Carlsbad as a premier travel destination.
“It's obvious that visitors to Carlsbad benefit our local economy tremendously,” said Kurt Burkhart, executive director of the bureau. “Tourism's direct economic impact to Carlsbad is significant for it provides the city with a critical source of funding to assure delivery of essential services to our residents. Thanks to our region's strong visitor industry, we all have much to be grateful for during this year's National Tourism Week observance.”
Stay tuned for announcements from the bureau in the weeks to come regarding events you may participate in as you join us in celebrating National Tourism Week and honoring those whose job it is to make all visitors to Carlsbad feel welcome.
It is a time when the tourism industry joins in solidarity to remind Americans that travel and tourism is big business and that it is the core of the economy for many cities throughout the U.S. Carlsbad is no exception.
Faced with an ambiguous economy, the 2008 tourism industry, according to many, looks to be one of cautious optimism. Even with all of the difficulties the industry has faced over this last year with the high cost of fuel, the mortgage crisis and the loss of consumer confidence, San Diego County continues to remain one of the top travel destinations in the country.
The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that the leisure travel market, which is the region's largest travel segment, is expected to again lead the industry in the coming year. This year, the total number of visitors to San Diego is projected to reach 32 million, an increase of 1.8 percent over 2007 estimates. Overall visitor spending is estimated to hit the $8.1 billion mark, representing a 4 percent increase over 2007 projected spending figures. While the hotel meetings segment will not grow markedly this year, it should remain solid, barring any dramatic economic downturn.
“The creation of San Diego's Tourism Marketing District and the additional revenue it will generate could not have come at a more crucial time as it will greatly enhance our ability to effectively market our region,” said David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO of San Diego ConVis. “San Diego's product is evolving and the offerings are relevant and desired by travelers around the world. More advertising dollars will generate a buzz about San Diego that will translate into greater visitation and higher visitor spending.”
The eyes of the world will be on our region in June during the prestigious U.S. Open PGA golf tournament in Torrey Pines. In addition, LEGOLAND and SeaWorld are opening new exhibits this year. Also, a separate attraction will open adjacent to LEGOLAND later this year. Sea Life is a two-story, 36,000-square-foot aquarium designed to educate children about life under the sea.
So what does all of this mean for our local tourism industry in Carlsbad? Our community will no doubt benefit from San Diego's impressive efforts to market the region as we are indeed fortunate to be in a highly desirable location. If Carlsbad's popularity and ranking as a part of this region are any indication, then the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau has done its job very well in promoting Carlsbad as a premier travel destination.
“It's obvious that visitors to Carlsbad benefit our local economy tremendously,” said Kurt Burkhart, executive director of the bureau. “Tourism's direct economic impact to Carlsbad is significant for it provides the city with a critical source of funding to assure delivery of essential services to our residents. Thanks to our region's strong visitor industry, we all have much to be grateful for during this year's National Tourism Week observance.”
Stay tuned for announcements from the bureau in the weeks to come regarding events you may participate in as you join us in celebrating National Tourism Week and honoring those whose job it is to make all visitors to Carlsbad feel welcome.