It’s home to the happiest place on earth, a vibrant entertainment scene, easy to access beaches and shopping, outlet shopping. So it’s little wonder that Anaheim in California is popular with tourists. And particularly Aussie ones.
According to Tourism Economics, a record-breaking 24.9 million visitors flocked to Anaheim last year. And with them, they brought US$15.7 billion into Orange County’s economy. Money that was spent across various sectors, including lodging, entertainment, dining, and shopping.
Visitors to the city spent US$6 billion within Anaheim alone, a 11.9 percent increase compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Anaheim also witnessed a steady visitation increase of 2.9 percent compared to 2019.
The thunder from Down Under
Among the international visitors, Australians held a significant share in the city’s tourism boom.
40.6 percent of Australian visitors in 2022 were return guests, staying an average of 5.7 days in the city. For these visitors, Disney-owned attractions ranked at the top of their points of interest.
Additionally, other sought-after destinations included Anaheim’s beaches, shopping hotspots like The Outlets at Orange and South Coast Plaza, popular Theme Park destinations, and delightful dining locations.
“The fact that 2022 heralded in a milestone year underscores the successes of destination development projects and recovery strategies that have put Anaheim top of mind for visitors looking to plan a vacation,” Jay Burress, President & CEO of Visit Anaheim said.
“The increase in visitor spending also demonstrates the resilience of our local tourism industry.”
Looking ahead, Burress remains optimistic about Anaheim’s future.
With ongoing developments at the renowned Disneyland Resort and the anticipated groundbreaking of ocV!BE this year, the city’s tourism sector is poised for continued growth, he said.
For more information on Anaheim and to explore all the hotels, events, and conventions the city has to offer, visit visitanaheim.org.
