New report shows tourists spent $2.7 billion in Monterey County in 2015

It’s not hard to see why people visit Monterey County, with its magnificent coastlines and beautiful weather. According to a new report by the Monterey County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the tourism industry just had its best year ever.

In 2015, visitors to Monterey County spent $2.7 billion, a 4.5 percent increase over 2014.

“Overall we’ve seen a pretty consistent flow of people through the shop,” said Brandon Squires.

Squires runs Adventures by the Sea on Cannery Row in Monterey. He said for the last five years sales have been consistent year round.

“I think it has to do with the fact that we have had some pretty good weather,” said Squires

The report also showed 4.5 million people booked overnight stays — up almost 5 percent from 2014.

“We’re seeing many more people traveling, taking more trips, much more confidence in the economy and we like to capitalize on that with our campaign Grab Life by the Moments,” said Tammy Blount, president and CEO of the Monterey County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Blount said the tourism industry is the biggest money maker on the peninsula and employs 24,000 people.

“It’s also something that is providing the revenues to our local governments and our local businesses to those open so we as residents can enjoy that wonderful quality of life that we find so special here,” said Blount.

The bureau started a new campaign in 2013 to draw more crowds. Also, Squires said international attention from “Big Blue Live,” a BBC documentary on area marine life, is also bringing in business.

“We got a lot of people from the UK and other countries coming in (and saying) ‘hey, we saw this program about the whales and stuff,’ so we’ve seen an increase of people wanting to see whales with us,” Squires said.