Tourism & Hospitality
Universal Studios Theme Park. Universal City. |
L.A. County Tourism &
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Dreams are made in Southern California and the world travels here to capture a piece of those dreams.
Tourism and hospitality ranks as the number one job creator in Los Angeles County with over 456,000 people employed in jobs catering to visitors. Some 25 million overnight guests arrive in Los Angeles County each year, spending over $14.2 billion in the local economy.
Add to that a seemingly endless stream of day trip visitors from nearby communities and the millions who arrive at L.A. gateways to visit attractions in neighboring Orange County, and you come to realize the real importance of tourism to the local economy.
Drawn by great weather, scenic coastlines, Hollywood stars, and theme park magic, visitors to Southern California soon find there is much more to see and do here.
Museums including the Getty, Norton Simon, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art feature masterpieces, antiquities, and great contemporary art. At Exposition Park in downtown L.A., the Natural History Museum features one of the most extensive collections of natural and cultural history, while the California Science Center nearby offers hands-on learning to more than 1.4 million visitors each year.
The performing arts also thrive in Los Angeles County. Theatre, dance, and music draw guests from throughout the region to dozens of venues including the spectacular Disney Concert Hall, Kodak Theatre, the famed Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, Music Center and the new L.A. LIVE venues among many others.
Fashion trends are set in Southern California, so it is only natural that people flock here to shop. Whether it is hobnobbing with the elite along Rodeo Drive, checking out the latest fashions at the Grove, or searching for bargains in the garment district, the allure of acquiring attractive attire is irresistible.