No love for LA? Tourism drops, impacting the local economy

A new report shows tourism is down about 8% in California

and it's impacting tourism hotspots like Hollywood Boulevard. I'd say down about 70 to 80%. 100%. 50%

Definitely drastic turn. Straight Arrow News spoke with vendors who say the numbers are way down

and it's really having an effect. Yeah, it's a huge, huge impact. It's definitely a huge impact in our families and everything, you know

We have less people. We have less buses. We're definitely down the line

What's the cause for the big drop? People we spoke to listed several things

and the president and current immigration policies came up often. Some of my friends are foreigners, and it's a lot harder for them to get visas. It's not just a quick check

This time I've seen more people worried about police and ICE around than the last time they came

I think most of it's probably political. And then, you know, I just, we haven't, maybe as a country

we haven made it easy to feel safe and actually be affordable too Affordability is big too you know The cost of L also came up with both vendors and visitors An Indian couple we spoke with said this is the third time that they been to visit

their son who's in school here. Every time we come, we kind of just get groceries and then we

stay in an apartment. But this time I think it was nearby 10 because, you know, when I paid up

the daughters and what I bought was, yeah, it just was like a little shocking

20% of what we used to buy. Despite their concerns, people who made the trip are having a good time seeing the things

people typically want to see while they're in La La Land. Everything that we see on TV and TV shows, everything is from here

So I believe that's the main point, just visiting where it all comes from

For me, this trip, the 101 Highway, it's something that is very popular in Vancouver

So I've been wanting to do that like for 10 years now. So I suggested her. She came to my ideas

L.A. is poised to get an influx of tourism in the next few years

as the city will host a World Cup game next year, the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Summer Olympics in 2028

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com