California remains top U.S. tourism destination
- Posted on April 21, 2026
- By San Francisco Chronicle
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- 1 min read
In brief
California maintains its position as America's leading tourism hub, with San Francisco experiencing remarkable recovery in travel expenditures. The city surpassed its pre-pandemic spending records in nominal terms, reaching $14.2 billion in 2025 compared to $14.1 billion in 2019. However, when adjusted for inflation, visitor spending remains below pre-pandemic levels, reflecting broader economic trends affecting the travel industry's purchasing power and consumer behavior patterns.
California remains top U.S. tourism destination
Travel spending in San Francisco rose to $14.2 billion in 2025, topping 2019’s pre-pandemic high of $14.1 billion. But 2025 spending was considerably lower than 2019 when adjusted for inflation.
