San Diego Tourism Authority Chief Operating Officer Kerri Kapich, Mayor Todd Gloria and World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana Board Chair Mai Nguyen pose with local mascots and roller skaters at the San Diego Natural History Museum on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Kerri Kapich, the authority’s chief operating officer, said tourism is a vital part of San Diego’s economy. The industry also helps pay for public services. The city of San Diego said more than $170 million in hotel occupancy taxes“We’re talking about the money that fills potholes, that clears storm drains, that maintains our streets and sidewalks,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said.are expected to visit San Diego this year. That’s slightly more than last year, but still a few million shy of the 2019 count.