Santa Ana’s Travel Economy Grew
by Nearly 20% Over 2021
Travel Santa Ana released statistics from the 2022 Visitor Impact report conducted specifically for Santa Ana by Dean Runyan Associates. In 2022, traveler expenditures for Santa Ana came to an estimated $348.5 million, an increase of nearly 20% over 2021, however, still down 19% compared to pre-pandemic 2019. The travel industry contributed close to $25 million in local and state taxes.
Without these travel-generated tax receipts, resident households in Santa Ana would pay $356 more a year in state and local taxes.
“Tourism plays a vital role in Santa Ana’s economy, benefiting local businesses and generating jobs, in our community,” said Wendy Haase, President & CEO, Travel Santa Ana. “Revenue generated from visitors helps fund our city’s public services and education, and lessens local and state taxes for residents.”
The travel industry supported 2,750 Santa Ana jobs and was responsible for adding $117 million in wages to the local economy.
Santa Ana’s major visitor spending categories are as follows: food service $90 million, accommodations $83 million, $68 million in arts, entertainment, and recreation, $60 million in local transportation and gas, $32 million in retail sales, and $15 million in food stores.
Statewide, travel spending grew by 31.7% in 2022 to $134.4 billion, bringing tourism spending 93% of the way back to pre-pandemic levels. During that time, the travel sector added 157,000 jobs in California, bringing the statewide total to 1.1 million jobs supported by tourism. Visitor-generated tax revenue for state and local government increased by 21.6% to $11.9 billion.
These numbers are estimates from the Santa Ana Visitor Impact Report, Calendar Year 2022, a tourism economic impact study conducted by Dean Runyan Associates. Dean Runyan Associates also conducts the California Travel Impacts by County reports for Visit California. The full report can be viewed by clicking here
###
