Destination Irvine released statistics from the 2011 Visitor Impact report conducted specifically for Irvine. In 2011, traveler expenditures for Irvine came to an estimated $498.9 million, an increase of 6.4 percent since 2010. The industry contributed $27.4 million in local and state taxes, an increase of 1.3 percent over last year.

"The tourism industry is a vital source of funding for the City of Irvine," said Wendy Haase, Director of Tourism Marketing, Destination Irvine. "Visitor spending contributes to maintaining a balanced city budget and high community standards; without it resident households would pay more per year in taxes."

Irvine's major visitor spending categories are as follows:

Spending Categories Percent of Total Spending Spending in Irvine ($ Millions)
Food & Beverage Services 28%$138.4
Accommodations 23%$115
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 19%$93.9
Retail21%$107.4
Transportation 9% $44.2
Total Spending in 2011 100% $498.9

In addition, the travel industry supported 5,340 Irvine jobs and was responsible for adding $177.3 million in wages to the local economy.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, the travel industry expanded its employment base by 119,000 accounting for seven percent of the 1.6 million jobs created during 2011 - doubling the jobs created by construction and real estate industries combined.

These numbers are estimates from the Irvine Visitor Impact Report, Calendar Year 2011, a tourism economic impact study conducted by Dean Runyan Associates. Dean Runyan Associates also conducts the California Travel Impacts by County reports for Visit California.
The full report can be viewed at http://www.destinationirvine.com/tourism

About Destination Irvine
Under the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit 501(c)6, Destination Irvine, funded by a self-imposed assessment through a Hotel Improvement District (H.I.D.), positions Irvine as a destination for visitors, meetings and groups. Destination Irvine through direct sales efforts including database marketing, lead generation, trade show participation, and familiarization tours, sells the destination. In addition, Destination Irvine promotes Irvine through marketing, advertising and public relations efforts.

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