Los Angeles Sets New Tourism Record, Welcomed 45.5 Million Visitors in 2015

Tourism Industry Grows for Fifth Consecutive Year, China Becomes L.A.'s Number Two International Market

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. January 13, 2016

LOS ANGELES, CA. January 13, 2016 - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) President & CEO Ernest Wooden Jr. today announced Los Angeles welcomed a record 45.5 million visitors in 2015, an increase of 2.8% over 2014 levels, breaking visitation records for the fifth consecutive year.

New tourism records were set for both domestic and international visitation surpassing mid-year forecasts. Total domestic visitation reached 38.8 million, a 2.8% increase over 2014, and 6.7 million international visitors made Los Angeles their ultimate destination, a 3.3% increase over the previous year.

“Los Angeles is a place where the world comes together for cultural experiences and celebrated attractions that cannot be found anywhere else,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Our city keeps setting records in the tourism sector because we are investing billions at our airport, in mass transit, and other assets that are making L.A. more exciting and accessible than ever. The sky's the limit.”

China was the most dynamic market driving international visitation with a year-over-year growth of 13.6%, officially becoming L.A.'s number two international market, behind Mexico, with 779,000 visitors. South Korea also grew by double digits, an increase of 11% totaling more than 282,000 visitors.

“We want to recognize and congratulate our hospitality community for their passion and dedication which has allowed us to celebrate our fifth consecutive year of record-breaking visitation. It's these individuals and businesses that make Los Angeles such a dynamic destination that 45.5 million people traveled to experience it in 2015,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., president & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “These figures help propel us to our goal of welcoming 50 million visitors by 2020.”

Tourism is among the largest and healthiest contributors to the Los Angeles economy, supporting more than 464,000 jobs in the Leisure & Hospitality sector. A record 28.5 million hotel room nights were sold countywide with ADR reaching a new high of $158.35, a 7.4% increase over 2014. In the calendar year 2015, it is estimated that hotel visitors generated at least $223 million in transient-occupancy tax collections for the City of Los Angeles.

About Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, non-profit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at discoverLosAngeles.com, join the more than one million people who follow L.A. Tourism's Facebook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan, or follow @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Contact:
Jamie Foley - Vice President
Global Communications
[email protected]
213-624-7300

Shant Apelian - Manager, Corporate Communications
[email protected]