$2.6 Billion Pumped Into Economy : Tourist Trade Rose Steadily in ’87

Tourism in San Diego County grew steadily during 1987, with the number of tourists and the amount of money they spent rising over the previous year, according to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The 32 million county visitors pumped about $2.6 billion into the economy during 1987, according to the bureau. The number of tourists increased 5.2% over the 30.4 million who visited the county during 1986, but spending rose 8.7% to $2.6 billion, the bureau said.

“Discounting inflation, the 8.7% increase . . . represents 4.7% in real growth,” Bureau President Dal L. Watkins said. “San Diego’s tourism industry has reported monthly gains in all but one month since the 1984 Olympics” in Los Angeles.

Hotel occupancy rates fell 4.3% during December but rose 1.6% to an annual average of 73% for the year. Nationally, hotel occupancy for 1987 is expected to remain flat at 64.6% for 1987.

Sea World of San Diego led all attractions during 1987 with a healthy 23.1% attendance increase. The park drew 3.7 million visitors in 1987, up from 1986’s 3 million. Sea World officials linked the dramatic increase to an extensive renovation completed in 1987 and the addition of several new shows and attractions.

Pandas Boosted Attendance

The San Diego Zoo reported that attendance increased 13% to 3.8 million, compared to 3.4 million the previous year. Zoo attendance was bolstered by two giant pandas that were on loan from China.

Attendance at the Wild Animal Park near Escondido, however, fell 8% to 1.1 million, compared to 1.2 million during 1986. Local museums reported that attendance fell 5.2% to 2 million.

In a related announcement, the bureau reported that San Diego’s new convention center, which is to open during 1989, had 79 definite bookings at the end of January.

Those bookings would bring an estimated 604,000 delegates to the county, and generate about $251 million in added revenue, according to the bureau.

Action Sports Retailers, which draws about 18,000 people to its annual meetings, has agreed to stage its conventions in San Diego from 1990 to 1995. The annual event is expected to generate about $2.1 million in revenue.

The center also has definite bookings from:

The U.S. League of Savings Institutions, with 8,000 delegates, in 1992. That convention would generate an estimated $4.5 million in revenue.

The Public Library Assn., with 3,000 delegates and $2 million in revenue, in 1991.

The American Society for Cell Biology, with 5,000 delegates and an estimated $4.1 million, in 1990.

The American Federation for Clinical Research, with 4,000 delegates and $2.9 million, in 1995.

The National Spa & Pool Institute, with 4,000 delegates and $2.4 million, in 1990.

At the end of January, the center had signed 215 tentative agreements for conventions that would bring an estimated 1.5 million visitors to San Diego. Those meetings would generate about $614 million.