OAKLAND — Visit Oakland has announced skyrocketing tourism numbers at its 4th Annual Tourism Breakfast at the Oakland Museum of California earlier this week.

In 2016. a total of 3.7 million visitors travelled to Oakland and spent US$627 million, up 3.4% from 2015. Visitor spend has been increasing year-after-year and has grown by 27% in the last four years.

Much of Oakland’s international tourism growth is in correlation with European flights coming through Oakland International Airport. Within the last 18 months, OAK has announced nonstop flights to and from London, Barcelona, Paris and Rome, in addition to the existing Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen routes.

4th Annual Tourism Breakfast at the Oakland Museum of California

On OAK’s uptick in passenger volume, Bryant Francis, Port of Oakland Director of Aviation said: “Our rapidly expanding portfolio of international nonstop has helped OAK and the East Bay to be increasingly top-of-mind for European visitors to the Bay Area.”

To continue its growth in both the leisure and business travel sectors, Visit Oakland introduced two new marketing programs to solidify Oakland’s place nationally and internationally as a leading art and cultural destination. The inaugural Oakland Art Month kicks off in May 2018, for example, with partners that include OMCA, Oakland International Film Festival and the Oakland Symphony.

“The goal of the program is to showcase a wealth of incredible arts offerings in Oakland that can be enjoyed by the local community and visitors from afar,” said Mark Everton, President & CEO of Visit Oakland. “By promoting May as Oakland Art Month, Visit Oakland aims to encourage overnight stays to attend several art events during their stay. Furthermore, the profile of smaller events can be raised in part of the larger city promotion.”