Record Set in 2003 for Tourism in San Diego.

Byline: Michael Kinsman

Feb. 18--Shaking off a two-year slump, San Diego's tourism industry brought in a record $5.3 billion in revenue last year, the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau said yesterday.

After visitor spending dropped 2.1 percent in 2001 and 1.6 percent in 2002, it rebounded to grow 5.9 percent last year, when a record 26.4 million people visited the region.

The previous record spending was $5.2 billion in 2000.

Tourism was bolstered by the Super Bowl in January and some conventions late in the year. Visitor spending was up $152 million in January, while conventions of the American Society of Hematology (19,000 attendees), the Modern Language Association (9,500) and the California School …