Coastal Resources and Tourism  

Tourism in Santa Barbara County is thriving. A vibrant and enviable tourism economy has grown alongside a healthy oil and gas production industry.

• Total visitor volumes, travel spending, industry earnings, employment and tax revenues all continue to increase every year in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

• Between 1995 and 2002, hotel/motel room sales increased 40% (adjusted to 1996 dollars) in both Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

• In 2002, average hotel occupancy rates for both Santa Barbara (68.0%) and Ventura (66.2%) County areas performed ahead of the statewide average (64.8%).

• While Santa Barbara County accounts for just over one percent of the state’s population, it accounts for more than four percent of the state’s tourism visitor volume.

• While Santa Barbara County accounts for about 1.3 percent of the state’s personal income, the county accounts for 1.6 percent of travel accommodation spending and 1.5 percent of total travel spending.

• Dubbing itself "the American Riviera with a Prime Pacific Beach," Santa Barbara County has 34 beachfront hotels, including a brand new luxury resort opening in the summer of 2000.

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