In 2018, visitors to Anaheim helped the city continue a six-year streak of record-breaking numbers of visitors to the city and total tourist spending.

Preliminary reports from the city assert more than 24.4 million visitors came to the city in 2018 and spent more than $9 billion across Orange County. Last year, 2018, marked six consecutive years of records for the region. Compared to 2017, visitor spend increased 4.3 percent. Since 2013, when the records began getting shattered, spend increased 54 percent.

“Anaheim is proud to serve as the epicenter for tourism in Orange County which delivers positive economic benefits for every corner of the county,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO, Visit Anaheim. Visit Anaheim’s success among the sheer competition in tourism points toward the organization and region’s sharp strategic successes.

In 2016 and 2017, the greater Anaheim resort district added 1,555 hotel rooms. Theme park enhancements, new community hubs, revamped dining and more are to thank for the continued growth.

Another boon for the region comes in the form of a new 200,000-square-foot convention center, ACC North. The expansion completed in late 2017 and created the largest convention space on the West Coast.

“The future is bright for Anaheim; with the opening of Disneyland Park’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land slated for this summer, AAA Four Diamond luxury properties set to open within a year and many more development projects in the works, we anticipate Anaheim tourism to positively contribute to the economic vitality of the region for a long time to come,” said Burress.

In 2013, Anaheim attracted 18.7 million visitors who spent $5.83 billion.

Are you one of the visitors helping Anaheim reach new heights? Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.