The city of Los Angeles continued on its record-breaking trajectory for tourism in 2014, as the city’s airport also posted record highs for passenger traffic.
Mayor Eric Garcetti revealed 43.4 million tourists visited Los Angeles in 2014, a record for the fourth year in a row.
"The continuing, record-breaking growth and strength of tourism in Los Angeles is a shining light for our economy, creating good-paying jobs for our families, benefiting local businesses, and generating significant revenue for the city that goes toward the public services our city needs," Garcetti said.
"Angelenos should be proud that our great city is such a desired tourist destination for visitors from across the US and around the world," he said.
Garcetti said 2014 was a record year for international visitors at 6.5 million, while hotel occupancy was up at 79% for the year.
LAX was the second busiest airport in the US last year and saw 70 million passenger movements with nearly 700 daily nonstop flights to 85 cities in the US.
However the booming LA tourism market could stutter in the short term due to a shortfall in hotel rooms.
"Demand is exceeding the supply of hotel rooms that we have right now," said Ernest Wooden, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.
"It’s our hope that over the next several years we’re able to attract as many as 4,000 additional hotel rooms," he said.
