Oakland, CA – Visit Oakland, the Destination Marketing Organization for the city of Oakland, hosted IMPACT 510: The Town Tourism Day on May 15, 2024 at The Bridge Yard. The sold-out event welcomed 250 attendees including community partners, city officials, and business leaders to celebrate the 2023 results. Last year, the total tourism economic impact was $817 million and visitors supported a total of $617 million in sales at businesses in Oakland.
Of the $617 million spent in Oakland in 2023 by visitors, lodging accounted for $201 million which is 33% of the total visitor spending. Food and beverage spending resulted in $163 million representing 26% of the total spend. Transportation, including both air and ground transportation within the destination, as well as retail, captured $199 million of total visitor spending. In 2023, visitors spent 9% of their budget on recreation and entertainment, resulting in $54 million in economic impact.
In 2019, prior to the pandemic, visitor spend levels were at a high which created the benchmark for recovery. In 2023, Oakland reached 84% visitor spend recovery. Oakland welcomed 3.4 million visitors marking a strong 87% recovery. These results are proof that Oakland’s economic forecast projections are on track.
“The continued growth in Oakland’s travel sector is critical to the city’s recovery” stated Peter Gamez, President and CEO of Visit Oakland. “Tourism not only has direct positive impact on the Oakland economy, it also positively impacts the overall perception of our city. The steady increase shows that Oakland remains a vibrant and attractive destination.”
In true Oakland style, IMPACT 510 - The Town Tourism Day was about more than just the successful numbers. Visit Oakland presented an event that shared the value of tourism and uplifted the community. The name Impact 510 pays tribute to Oakland’s 510 area code. The date of the event was selected in support of California Tourism Month, and to align with National Travel and Tourism Week.
“Oakland offers tremendously diverse experiences for visitors,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, the state’s tourism marketing organization. “Signature events like Oakland Restaurant Week and Oakland Style celebrate the innovative spirit that make Oakland a part of California’s Ultimate Playground.”
The energy in the room was powerful and showed the unity of Oakland. Program elements included an engaging presentation by Visit Oakland President and CEO, Peter Gamez and an introduction to Chief Floyd Mitchell, Oakland’s new Chief of Police. Honorable Mayor Sheng Thao and John Albrecht, Aviation Marketing Manager for the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport were featured guest speakers. The Master of Ceremonies was Bay Area native, Sterling James. Live entertainment brought inspiring and very moving performance by Michael William Turner III. Music was shared by Jazz Mafia and DJ Christie James. The pre and post receptions celebrated the people of Oakland who remain the true heart and soul of The Town.
“Our success comes from within our community” commented Gamez. “The people of Oakland are genuine and welcoming and having them be part of this tourism celebration is very meaningful. We are very proud to share these positive results with locals and visitors. The inspiring outcome is a testament to the pride and passion Oaklanders have for The Town.”
VISITOR SPENDING IMPACT
In 2023, 3.4 million visitors spent $617 million across the Oakland economy, reaching 87% and 84%, respectively, of 2019 levels.
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
Direct visitor spending of $617 million generated a total economic impact of $817 million in Oakland in 2023, including indirect and induced impacts. This total economic impact sustained 5,556 jobs and generated $90 million in state and local tax revenues in 2023.
ABOUT VISIT OAKLAND
Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing Oakland, California as a travel destination. Visit Oakland offers a wide variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers interested in visiting Oakland. For more information, check out VisitOakland.com. Want to share the Oakland love with the world? Follow @visitoakland on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. #oaklandvegantrail #visitoakland #oaklandloveit
# # #
For questions, please contact:
