Tourists Flood LA in Record Numbers

A record 44.2 million visitors came to Los Angeles in 2014 and spent about $19.6 billion, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board announced today.

The number of visitors to the city was a 4.8 percent jump over 2013, according to the board. A record 6.5 million of the visitors to the city were international travelers, a 5.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Visitor spending of $19.6 billion represented a 6.8 percent jump from the previous year, with officials estimating a $30.2 billion in total economic impact of tourism. International visitors accounted for nearly one-third of visitor spending.

“A shining star of our local economy, the tourism industry continues to thrive, supporting good-paying jobs for our families and generating significant revenue for our city’s vital public services,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

According to the board, hotel occupancy and hotel room nights both set record highs last year.

The local tourism industry also accounted for one of every nine workers in Los Angeles County, supporting 464,600 jobs, according to the board. Tourism contributed to the creation of 25,300 jobs in 2014, making tourism the county’s top job-growth sector.

Meanwhile, statewide tourism agency Visit California announced that California tourism also reached record highs last year, with 251 million people traveling to the state and spending $117.5 billion.

Tourism spending supported more than 1 million jobs and generated $9.3 billion in state and local tax revenue last year, according to Visit California.

OTHER PATCH HEADLINES

• Santa Monica Police ‘Overly Aggressive’ in Pepper-Spraying Father of 4 for Park Curfew Violation, Attorney Says
• More High Surf, Dangerous Rip Currents Prompt Beach Warnings
• Video: Wedding Singer’s Rapping Grandma Dies at 101
• Did State’s Largest Bank Bilk You?
• Fiery Crash Jams 405 Morning Commute
• Long-Time Joni Mitchell Friend Granted Conservatorship of Hospitalized Singer
• ‘Django Unchained’ Actress Ordered to Write Apologies to Arresting Officers

City News Service

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Get Patched in! Sign up for free news alerts for your town.

AGOURA HILLS | BELMONT SHORE-NAPLES|BEVERLY HILLS | BRENTWOOD | CALABASAS| CERRITOS-ARTESIA | CULVER CITY | HERMOSA BEACH | HOLLYWOOD | LONG BEACH | MALIBU | MANHATTAN BEACH | MARINA DEL REY | NORTH HOLLYWOOD-TOLUCA LAKE | NORTHRIDGE-CHATSWORTH | PACIFIC PALISADES |PALOS VERDES | REDONDO BEACH | SANTA MONICA |SHERMAN OAKS | STUDIO CITY | VENICE-MAR VISTA | WEST HOLLYWOOD | WESTWOOD-CENTURY CITY |WOODLAND HILLS