(ONTARIO, California, February 19, 2024) – Record international travel volumes at Ontario International Airport (ONT) are great news for Greater Ontario’s tourism industry and underscore the Inland Empire’s growing stature as a global destination, the head of the region’s premier hospitality organization said today.
Michael Krouse, President and CEO of Greater Ontario California (GOCAL), said the January report from the popular Southern California airport is further proof of the inland region’s growth in attracting business, investment and visitors from all over the world.
“This validates what we and others have been saying for some time, that Greater Ontario is the new center of Southern California. There are a number of reasons for this – our natural amenities, our world-class Convention Center and entertainment venues, our great restaurants and hotels, and a hospitality workforce able to meet the needs of our visitors. Having such a wonderful international airport makes us an even more desirable destination,” Krouse said.
This past week, ONT announced that it had welcomed a record 45,012 international travelers during January, up 90% from a year earlier. Overall, more than 470,000 passengers flew into or out of the airport, marking the 35th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Among ONT’s more than two dozen direct destinations are international flights to Mexico, Latin America and Taipei, Taiwan. Recently, the airport opened a Global Entry Enrollment Center, one of only a handful in California, and introduced the Simplified Arrivals biometric screening system at its international terminal.
“What’s hidden in all of this, from an international travel perspective, are all the global gateway destinations that ONT serves – major airports such as JFK in New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas and more. Those direct connections are bringing even more international travelers to our region,” Krouse said, adding that the combination of domestic and international routes to and from ONT is one of the reasons more businesses are choosing Greater Ontario as a destination to host their meetings and conventions.
“This shows just how much of a force Greater Ontario has become in the travel and hospitality space, something that will become even more apparent as the 2028 Olympics approach,” Krouse said.
Today, Greater Ontario’s Tourism Marketing District features 68 hotels and 6,749 hotel rooms, and generates nearly $100 million a year in economic impact, making it the hub of a growing Inland Empire hospitality scene that employs more than 180,000 workers and generates $1.2 billion a year in local and state tax revenues. Since the early days of the pandemic shutdown, the IE’s hospitality industry has added 78,000 workers, making it one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the region.
As for international visitors specifically, GOCAL’s most recent annual report showed that they are spending more time and money here than ever before, with an average stay of 3.2 days. More than 4 of every 5 international visitors – 82.1% – spent the night here, and 26.2% of those were repeat visitors.
The fact that the Inland Empire has emerged as California’s most dynamic – and diverse –
population and economic center is another contributor to the increase in international visitors. Already the nation’s 12th largest metropolitan area – ahead of such major markets as San Francisco, San Diego, Denver and Tampa Bay – the IE is projected to add more than 1 million residents in the next 25 years. By contrast, Los Angeles County is expected to lose population.
“This is the place to be in Southern California, whether it’s visiting, raising a family or operating a business,” Krouse said. “The future is now, and we’re thrilled about that.”
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