Barrales spoke about convention and tourism, which employs 13% of the people employed in San Diego. Of the 31 million people who visit San Diego each year, about a quarter of them stay in hotels, and those who spend the most money here are international visitors. “Tourism brings money in—it’s a good business model.”

Improving our airport infrastructure to allow more jets to fly in and out of Lindbergh Field, improving Interstate 5—a main thoroughfare between Los Angeles and the Mexican border—and encouraging cross-border tourism are key to boosting this sector of the economy, Barrales added.

Innovation—including biotech, high-tech and clean tech—is the third traded economy that brings in money to San Diego, Roth said. With 82 research institutions here, this is one sector that needs local support and a local plan for growth.

Barrales said that commercial real estate development is not a driver of the economy, but a result of growing all of the other sectors, and Roth emphasized that development won’t spur growth if there’s no one to buy or rent the properties developed. Therefore, luring people and businesses to San Diego for its unique qualities is vital.

As GlobeSt.com previously reported, culling young talent, rallying around currently existing local businesses and participating in the state’s enterprise zones are also key factors in San Diego’s future growth, according to panelists at a recent Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana District Council breakfast forum. Panelists discussed efforts to attract and retain business in the area, a discussion that was dominated by the belief that helping companies grow that are already here is the best way to achieve this goal.

Cafferty, who also spoke at the breakfast forum, echoed the sentiment of supporting currently existing local businesses, as well as creating more ties between San Diego and Baja California, Mexico, which boasts a thriving and skilled manufacturing sector that is much more economical than overseas manufacturing.