How much did tourists spend in SLO County last year? Hint: It’s in the billions
People who live here already know San Luis Obispo County is the place to be — but last year’s tourism numbers prove it.
Tourists and travelers spent $2.4 billion in San Luis Obispo County in 2024, according to Visit SLO CAL’s final economic report. That’s a 2.6% increase in countywide travel spending from the previous year, the group said in a news release.
“Tourism is vital to SLO CAL, driving economic prosperity, creating jobs and enhancing the vibrancy of our region,” Visit SLO CAL president and CEO Cathy Cartier said in the release. “As the region’s second largest economic driver, tourism strengthens our local economy, supports thousands of jobs and helps preserve the communities that make SLO CAL so special.”
The report arrived just in time for the U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week from May 4 to 10.
Tourism makes up over 10% of SLO County’s economy, according to Visit SLO CAL.
Taxes and earnings generated from tourism went toward supporting 23,820 local jobs, including hotel staff, property managers, food and beverage workers, tour guides, event staff, retail workers and more.
In total, SLO County’s tourism industry generated $953.1 million in salaries and wages in 2024 — a 4.3% increase from the year prior, the release said.
As for taxes, tourism generated $60.1 million in transient occupancy tax revenue in 2024 — better known as the “hotel tax” — which charges vacation rental and hotel guests in SLO County a 10.5%-to-12.5% tax depending on where in the county they are staying. The hotel tax revenue increased 3.7% from the year prior, the release said.
Tourism in SLO County also generated $202.1 million in direct tax revenue last year — $96.5 in state taxes and $105.6 million in local taxes — up 2.5% from last year, according to the report. That is an economic benefit equal to an extra $21,707 spent and $1,855 more paid in taxes per household.
