Sonora, CA…Tuolumne County benefited from California’s robust and dynamic tourism industry in 2016, welcoming visitors who injected $230 million into the local economy. Visit California released a report produced by Dean Runyan Associates showing visitor spending in the county supported 2340 jobs and generated $17.5 million in state and local tax revenue to propel the region’s economy forward. Statewide, visitors injected a record $126.3 billion into California’s economy and supported more than one million jobs.

“2016 marked the seventh straight year of growth for California’s tourism industry,” said Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta. “California out-indexed the U.S. last year in visitor spending by almost an entire percentage point.” Over the past 25 years, annual visitor spending has grown by more than $70 billion, increasing annual state and local tax revenue from $3.4 billion in 1992 to $10.3 billion in 2016. This revenue provides our community with the resources we need to invest in infrastructure improvements and innovative projects that benefit us all.

“Tourism continues to grow in Tuolumne County and therefore we see the expansion of businesses that cater to both visitors and residents alike. Without tourism, many places that we as locals like to go, like restaurants and specialty shops could not be supported by residents alone,” stated Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau Executive Director, Lisa Mayo.

The Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau has a strategic approach to marketing the many attributes of Tuolumne County to both domestic and international markets. That approach includes partnerships with large organizations like San Francisco Travel and Visit California, multi-platform marketing programs that can be built on year after year and working with the media to help build awareness for Tuolumne County as an incredible destination.
On May 24th, as part of California Tourism Month, the TCVB will be hosting the 3rd Annual Tourism Summit at Best Western PLUS Sonora Oaks. Attendees will learn more about how the TCVB promotes tourism and tourism spending in Tuolumne County. Cost to attend the Tourism Summit is $75 ($60 for TCVB members) and includes lunch. Those interested in attending can get more details by calling the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau at 209-533-4420.

In collaboration with its local partners, Visit California is actively working to ensure the tourism industry remains a strong pillar of California’s economy. The organization’s mission is to create demand for travel to California by marketing the California dream around the world.
“California represents a culture of openness, and the world has always looked to the Golden State as a place where all dreams are welcome,” said Beteta. “By rolling out the red carpet for international visitors, we are ensuring that California remains an inclusive destination for all tourists.”
Visit California is a statewide organization that works with local partners across the state to develop and implement innovative global marketing programs that instill a desire for travelers to experience the California dream. This work plays an important role in propelling Tuolumne County’s tourism economy, and has inspired local and global travelers to not only dream, but to Dream Big – a legacy that has and will continue to flourish for decades to come.
To access the full “California Travel Impacts by County, 1992-2015, 2016 Preliminary State & Regional Estimates” report visit http://industry.visitcalifornia.com/impacts.

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Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit organization that promotes the many assets of Tuolumne County to potential international and domestic visitors. The TCVB promotes Tuolumne County’s spectacular Highway 108 High County, Highway 49’s historic Gold Country and Highway 120’s Yosemite. The work of the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau is essential to the economic growth of Tuolumne County. For more information about the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau go to www.VisitTuolumne.com.

Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, spending by travelers totaled $126.3 billion in 2016 in California, generating 1,096,000 jobs in the state and $10.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about Visit California, go to www.travelmattersca.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to www.media.visitcalifornia.com.