As some Californians choose to cautiously venture outside amid closures and restrictions due to COVID-19, travel patterns have shifted and highlight the need for visitors to show respect toward local communities.
Tourism is a huge economic driver across California, responsible in 2019 for $144.9 billion in visitor spending, 1.2 million jobs and $12.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. Continued reinforcement of safe and responsible behavior principles will help revive California’s tourism industry, and our state, which is estimated to have lost more than $72.1 billion in visitor spending, 613,000 tourism jobs and more than $6 billion in state and local tax revenue this year alone.
During these challenging times, Visit California continues to work on initiatives to inspire community support and begin safe and responsible travel when the time is right. Their new Responsible Travel Hub offers tips and strategies for those ready to travel, emphasizing safety and respect for fellow travelers, and provides clear, fact-based information and resources for visiting California beaches, restaurants, hotels and parks, in addition to information about California airports and renting a vehicle.
Travel matters to California will help propel economic recovery as businesses and destinations start re-opening. Read more on the tourism industry’s response to the COVID-19 crisis and the benefits of travel and tourism to California’s economy.