Tourism Reaches Record High 40.2 Million for Year

Orange County will draw a record 40.2 million visitors this year, topping the peak of 39.4 million posted seven years ago, the county’s tourism and convention bureau predicted Tuesday.

Experts attributed the higher-than-expected numbers to an improving economy and Disneyland’s super-hyped finale of its Main Street Electrical Parade. Though the estimate exceeds last year’s 38.7-million total by a modest 1.6%, Elaine Cali, a bureau spokeswoman, noted the increase followed the hefty 4.5% jump posted in 1995 over the prior year.

Visitors will spend a record $5.5 billion across the county, up from $5.1 billion last year, with lodging places, restaurants and entertainment venues capturing most of that, the bureau reported.

The city of Anaheim, home to Disneyland, the county’s convention center and 150 hotels, will reap sizable benefits too. “The results last year were outstanding,” says William Sweeney, Anaheim’s director of finance.

The city charges 15% on lodging bills--the highest rate in the county--and can set aside millions collected to help finance its expansion plans for the convention center and related improvements.

Hotel business throughout the county has been particularly strong, with occupancy rates through October averaging 77%, up 6.34 percentage points from last year. In fact, the lodging industry will capture 26% of the total spent by visitors this year, up from 25% last year, the bureau reported.

Anaheim, with 18,000 hotel rooms, received $44.7 million alone from the tax on overnight stays for its fiscal year ended June 30, compared with $33.7 million the prior year. The city attributes the uptick both to an increase in the tax rate to 15% from 13% and strengthening occupancy rates.

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Tourism Triumph

Orange County’s 1996 visitor tally is expected to reach a record 40.2 million. The biggest single month was August, when nearly 5 million dropped in. Annual and 1996 monthly trends, in millions:

Annual Visitors

1996*: 40.2

****

1996 Monthly Trend

Dec.*: 3.83

* Estimate

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Where the Money Goes

Tourists have spent an estimated $5.5 billion in Orange County this year. Here’s where they left it:

Meals/beverages: 28%

Lodging: 26%

Entertainment: 26%

Shopping: 17%

All other*: 3%

* Includes transportation, grocery/convenience store items

Source: CIC Research, Amusement Business Magazine