L.A. Celebrates Record Numbers
If the US is experiencing a decrease in visitor numbers, it seems Los Angeles is not taking part.
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) reports that Los Angeles County hosted a record-setting 47.3 million visitors last year – including seven million international visitors – injecting an all-time high US$21.9 billion into the local economy.
The new visitor spend milestone is US$1.3 billion more than 2015’s total, an increase of 6.3%. The celebratory announcement coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, organized by the U.S. Travel Association to champion the power of travel.
Traveller spending generated US$33.6 billion in total economic impact for Los Angeles County (including the induced and indirect benefits). Tourism contributed more than US$2.65 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2016.
A key economic driver in Los Angeles, tourism supports 510,500 jobs within the Leisure & Hospitality sector – one of the county’s largest and strongest sectors. The industry contributed to the addition of 21,400 new jobs last year, a 4.4% year-over-year increase.
“This is L.A.’s moment. We’re breaking tourism records every year, and this is only the beginning,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This National Travel and Tourism Week, we are celebrating our thriving tourism industry and looking ahead at the limitless opportunity to come – with attractions like the Lucas Museum and a potential Summer Olympics that will cement Los Angeles’ standing as the world’s best destination.”
L.A. County’s average occupancy rate for 2016 reached 81.3%, surpassing 80% for the first time in County history with a record 29.2 million hotel room nights sold county-wide. City of L.A. hotel visitors generated US$268 million in transient-occupancy tax collections for the City, funds used for critical community services.
(Matt Marriott photo)
