San Francisco Travel Projecting Record Visitor Volume and Spending for 2018

(Source: 699pic.com)

The San Francisco Travel Association is forecasting record levels of visitor volume and spending for 2018. This is the ninth year in a row that the destination has surpassed the previous year’s totals.

The destination marketing organization is projecting a total of 26.1 million visitors to the city for 2018, up 2.4 percent over 25.5 million in 2017.

Total spending by visitors is projected to reach $9.4 billion. This is up 3.6 percent over $9.1 billion in 2017.

San Francisco Travel expects to welcome 2.9 million international visitors in 2018, an increase of 2.8 percent over 2017. They are projected to spend $5.0 billion, up 3.6 percent from $4.86 billion in 2017.

International visitors should comprise 28 percent of visitors and 62 percent of all overnight visitor spending in 2018.

The strongest visitor growth will be in the Asia/Pacific markets (India, Taiwan, Australia).

“After slower growth in 2017, international growth is strengthening again. Markets in Asia and Australia are especially strong, all up more than 4 percent in growth versus an overall average of 2.8 percent for all international markets. Growth is even stronger in spending by international visitors. Spending in the international markets is up 3.6% overall for 2018, but China and Taiwan are each up by 11 percent while India and Korea have increased by more than 10 percent,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel.

“On the convention side, San Francisco Travel has been aggressively booking the expanding Moscone Center for many years into the future. There are currently 1.2 million definite room nights booked for 2019, the largest number ever for a single year,” he added.

China remains San Francisco’s most important overseas visitor market by spend and volume. San Francisco Travel continues to invest in new direct-to-consumer marketing programs to grow presence in the market. The organization is focusing on new strategic partnerships to expand its reach and improve competitive advantage in the market. Specific programs include:

Continuing to invest in San Francisco Travel's WeChat and Weibo channels and identifying new ways to allow key partners to participate in these programs

Partnering with brand names in the hotel and airline space to expand reach and voice and achieve mutual goals

Capitalizing on new ways to work with online travel agency partners like Ctrip and Fliggy with offline activations and improved product

Exploring emerging Chinese digital media channels to create compelling destination content and drive Bay Area product sales

San Francisco Travel has marketing representation and programs in 13 international markets: The United Kingdom/Ireland, Germany, France, Italy/Spain, Scandinavia, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Beijing, Shanghai, South Korea, India and Australia.

Tourism, San Francisco's largest industry, generated record-breaking numbers in 2017. More than 25.5 million people visited the destination, spending in excess of $9.786 billion. More than 81,700 jobs are supported by tourism in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Travel Association is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the city as a leisure, convention and business travel destination. With more than 1,300 partner businesses, San Francisco Travel is one of the largest partnership-based tourism promotion agencies in the country.

The San Francisco Travel business offices are located at One Front St., Suite 2900, San Francisco, CA 94111.

San Francisco Travel operates Visitor Information Centers at Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market St. at the corner of Powell and Market streets, and on the lower level of Macy’s Union Square. San Francisco Travel is also a partner at the California Welcome Center at PIER 39. For more information, visit www.sftravel.com.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop service by 41 international carriers serving 49 international cities and connects non-stop with 83 cities in the U.S. on 13 domestic airlines. SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.

American Express® is the official Card partner of the San Francisco Travel Association.