SONORA, Calif.- May 9, 2023- Visit Tuolumne County, the private, non-profit, destination marketing organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary along with National Travel and Tourism Week. For the past forty years, Visit Tuolumne County has been working to market Tuolumne County’s tourism assets regionally, nationally, and internationally. Their market success is projected through the thriving tourism economy in Tuolumne County as well as year-over-year growth in tourism spend.
In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, and California Tourism Month, Visit California released the 2022 Travel Impact Report, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates. Overall total direct travel spending increased to $251 million in 2022 from $241 million in 2021. Local tax contributions including transient occupancy tax totaled $10 million and household income taxes were offset by $954. Tourism-related jobs increased to 2,550 from 2,260 in 2021. Lisa Mayo, President & CEO for Visit Tuolumne County comments, “We are thrilled to see a healthy growth in tourism spend in Tuolumne County. Over the past 40 years, we have been growing Tuolumne County’s tourism economy and we look forward to continuing to build a robust marketing plan and continue a healthy trajectory for tourism growth.”
In 2022 VTC expanded its National Markets to include Washington, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona welcoming more qualified visitors to Tuolumne County. International market expansions included Mexico, and a re-launch into Canada while continuing marketing efforts in the UK and Ireland. National and international visitors tend to stay longer and spend more while visiting a destination, making these key audiences for Tuolumne County. Mayo states, “We have received reports from many of our partners that they are seeing an increase in visitors from Mexico and Canada. While our website reports show increased visitation from all our expanded markets.”
Another key initiative for growing tourism during off-peak and mid-week times is a strong focus on becoming a destination for meetings and groups. Tuolumne County is full of unique spaces and outdoor adventures for board meetings, team building, and retreats. With a refreshed incentive offer, meeting planner guide, and an investment in meetings and group advertising, VTC has assisted in booking several groups and meetings throughout the county.
Visit Tuolumne County is celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week with social media activations, press and travel trade trips, and industry recognition.
ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California with a mission to increase visitation, travel spending and overnight stays. Tuolumne County is just a 2 1/2-hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to VistTCToday.com.
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Media Contacts:
Katie Kirkland, Sales & Marketing Director, Visit Tuolumne County
katie@gotuolumne.com
(209)533-4420 | (209)743-9871
Lisa Mayo, President & CEO, Visit Tuolumne County
lisa@gotuolumne.com
(209)533-4420 | (209) 768-3214
