Billion-dollar record for Sonoma County tourism

Tourism in Sonoma County was a record $1.32 billion industry last year, keeping it in the ranks with wine, health care and high tech as mainstays of the local economy despite a downturn.

Tourism remains strong because baby boomers are traveling to Wine Country, wineries continue to draw visitors and people from the Bay Area find the area convenient for quick trips, said county economic development officials.

They unveiled their annual report to supervisors Tuesday.

Jennifer Macy, a program coordinator for the Economic Development Department, said hotels were receiving higher average daily room rates than last year and room occupancy was also higher.

The department’s survey found that the weak American dollar has brought more foreign visitors to the county. There was an 11 percent increase in visitors from Europe, a 13 percent increase from Canada and a 6 percent increase from the United Kingdom.