Press Releases

05/20/2008

                                                                               May 20, 2008

For more information contact:
Kimberly Adams, president and CEO
Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau
(888) 363-2852
www.temeculacvb.com

Tourism's Impact on Temecula Economy Grows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEMECULA, Calif. - Tourism's contribution to the economy of the Temecula Valley experienced double digit growth in 2007, according to an economic study completed by the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The study, conducted by Dean Runyan Associates of Portland, Oregon, estimated that visitor spending in the Temecula Valley in 2007 reached $604.7 million, a 10.5 percent increase from 2006. The report updated economic findings included in a Temecula Valley visitor analysis prepared in March 2007.

"While some of this increase in spending represents inflation, the growth in travel-generated employment has also been strong (4.5 percent per year since 2003)," the report said.

Tourism-related employment in 2007 reached 6,620 workers, up 2.6 percent from 2006 and 21.8 percent from 2000. Tourism-related spending in 2007 resulted in $23.6 million in taxes to local and state coffers, up 9.6 percent from a year ago and 16.6 percent from 2000, according to the report.

"This report shows that tourism and recreation were robust in 2007 despite uncertainties about the economy," said Kimberly Adams, president and chief executive officer of the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Although this year promises to be a transitional one for the national economy, our region continues to add tourist destinations and lodging."

More than a dozen new wineries are planned for Wine Country and more than 500 new hotel rooms are on the drawing board for the Temecula Valley.

Other study highlights:

* The Temecula Valley attracted nearly 2.4 million visitors in 2007, up from 2.2 million in 2006.
* Each visitor spent about $146 a day ($345 per party).

Study author Dean Runyan said Temecula's tourism business should remain solid during the current economic downturn.

"Temecula is well situated to a large area of population and that population is growing," he said. "As travel costs go up, travelers may choose to stay closer to home and Temecula is very appealing."

The Temecula Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau, formed four years ago, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate economic growth and tourism by promoting the Temecula Valley as a premiere destination to meeting planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. The bureau is the first in Inland Southern California to use marketing assessment fees rather than taxpayer money to market the region.

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