San Diego

Nearly 2 million visitors spent about $175 million in San Diego in January, representing a 12% jump in visitor spending over the same month last year, according to San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau statistics released Wednesday.

The number of people flying in jumped more than 12%, while border officials reported that a record 3.4 million crossed the international border at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.

San Diego’s tourist-oriented parks and zoos also increased attendance, a fact that is attributed to the sunny weather in January. The Wild Animal Park drew nearly 77,000 people, or a 24.8% jump, while Sea World showed a 10% gain and the San Diego Zoo a 6% increase over the same month last year.

In addition, more than 300,000 people visited the Old Town State Park, an increase of 34.3% over January, 1985. Local museums had a strong showing in January with more than 150,000 visitors, an increase of 10% from 1985.

Strong attendance at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center and at the Aerospace Museum was attributed to interest in the space program and Halley’s comet.