Travel and Tourism

As the nation’s largest county spanning more than 20,000 square miles, San Bernardino’s border adjoins five California counties and also stretches east touching the state lines of both Nevada and Arizona. Home to 24 cities as well as diverse elevations, multi-faceted terrains, and enviable climates, San Bernardino is known for its wide-open spaces as well as its outdoor adventures, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and watersports.

San Bernardino County, welcomes travelers from all corners of the world eager to explore everything from the floor of the Mojave Desert Basin to the alpine villages of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. The region also offers outlet shopping, wine tasting, apple picking and an array of eclectic outdoor art installations.

To learn more about the Inland Empire region's official tourism organization Discover Inland Empire, please visit DiscoverIE.com

For inspiration, follow Visit San Bernardino on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @visitsbcounty and Discover Inland Empire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nowdiscoverie.

Why Travel Matters

Travel and tourism is one of California’s most vital engines for economic growth. Every day, travelers inject hundreds of millions of dollars into communities across the Golden State, infusing $144.9 billion in to the state’s economy in 2019. This spending generated $12.2 billion in local and state tax revenue and supported 1.2 million jobs for Californians.

As the fifth-largest economy in the world, California cannot afford to lose the benefits from the state's thriving tourism economy. Visit California and the state's tourism industry have successfully galvanized the California brand around the world, and as a result continue to experience economic vitality and spending growth.

Posting record gains over the past decade, the tourism industry remains a foundational force driving California forward – a muscular pillar of the world’s fifth largest economy. From the biggest international gateway cities to rural towns throughout the state, the impact of travel spending on local economies cannot be understated. When the threat from coronavirus ends, travel will rebound and the economic impact of tourism in California will continue to trend upwards.

Funding Essential Public Services

In addition to the revenue generated for tourism businesses and destinations, the travel industry is one of the biggest drivers of state and local tax revenues that fund essential public services.

These services – which include public safety, infrastructure, development, local libraries and more -– benefit all Californians. Without the revenue generated by visitor spending, each California household would have had to pay an additional $920 in taxes in 2019.

King of the Hammers is an off-road race that combines desert racing and rock crawling that takes place each year at the end of January into the first week of February on public lands in Johnson Valley, California. The race has evolved from 12 teams racing to approximately 1,000 teams competing before 141,100 fans in person throughout the event.

Given the significant growth and success of the multi-day event, the King of the Hammers drives significant economic activity that supports businesses, households, and government finances in San Bernardino County.

To quantify the economic impact of the King of the Hammers, Tourism Economics prepared a comprehensive model using multiple primary and secondary data sources to quantify the impacts arising from the operations and visitor spending. San Bernardino County Economic Development Department invites you to read the report, available below, and reach out with questions and or opportunities.

Growing Hospitality Industry

With travel spending at an all-time high of $4.9 Billion, we are excited to see various new lodging partners seize the opportunity to develop in our region.

Short Term Rentals are an emerging industry in the County. When deciding whether to become an Airbnb host, it is important for you to understand the laws in your city or county. As a platform and marketplace we do not provide legal advice. Consult a local lawyer or tax professional for this type of information.

The following links may help you better understand relevant laws and regulations in San Bernardino County:

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