Tourism in SLO County Saw Record Breaking 7.7 Million Visitors in 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - Official tourism data released Monday morning showed a record number of visitors spent time in San Luis Obispo County last year.

According to a Visit California economic impact report, visitation in San Luis Obispo County totaled 7.7 million in 2025, a record-breaking amount with a 3.5% year-over-year (YoY) increase.

The information was part of an annual tourism summery released annually each May by Visit SLO CAL, the official destination marketing and management organization for San Luis Obispo County.

Several other tourism related metrics were also part of the report, including:

• $2.37 billion in direct travel spending (up 3.8% YoY) 
• 24,580 tourism-supported jobs (up 430 jobs YoY)
• $1.01 billion in direct earnings (up 5.3% YoY)
• $215.5 million in total state and local tax revenue, including $112.5 million in local taxes
• Tourism accounts for 9.7% of countywide GDP
• 7.7 million visitors (up 3.5% YoY)

"2025 was a breakthrough year for tourism in SLO CAL," said Cathy Cartier, President and CEO, Visit SLO CAL. "Across the region, our visitors, partners and communities came together to build something stronger than what came before the pandemic. These results speak to the power of consistency, collaboration and shared momentum."

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