One of the world’s most dynamic and diverse destinations, LA is the cultural hub of the Pacific Rim.
LA has 121 kilometers of shoreline, near-perfect weather, more museums and entertainment than any other city in the United States, and an award-winning culinary and gastronomy scene.
Los Angeles represents endless possibilities for its visitors.
With Los Angeles Tourism launching its very first independent office in Mumbai in 2019 in collaboration with BrandUSA, LA Tourism has kept its marketing activities in full force even throughout the Covid pandemic by participating in virtual travel marts, educating the travel trade media about what’s new, and also conducting and taking part in online webinars. LA Tourism took part in SATTE 2022, being the first in-person show in India, for the destination.
Diving in, hot and heavy with B2B
In India, La Tourism is going slow on the B2C front, focusing currently on B2B activities with the trade. In collaboration with Travel Boutique Online (TBO) they have helped spread an understanding about their LA Insider program across India through conducting e-learning activities by continuing to spread awareness regarding Los Angeles and educating travel agents about the offerings of the destination. Of course, once Visa regulations are streamlined, B2C activities will be the next point of focus for them.
Post pandemic trends on the rising
Post-pandemic, Los Angeles has seen a number of Free Independent Travelers (FIT) as more and more people are looking for offbeat experiences and destinations. The new age traveler wants to know, what else can be done? Besides the run of the mill. Group tours, though they have changed over the last couple of years, still continue to be part of the Indian Family travelers. Indians are traveling with a higher determination post-pandemic as travel demand has been suppressed to such a great extent over the last couple of years. With countries opening their borders and welcoming tourists with open arms, travel is booming, and how!
Small facts lead to great knowing
In 2021, 62,000 student visas were processed for the USA and in 2022 the number is even higher. The 5 big reputed universities in-demand fall under the California region. In 2019, pre covid, 1,35,000 Indian tourists visited LA, despite not having any direct flight to the destination. To reach LA, visitors can travel to San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, and make their way to LA via a short flight or even by road. Airline carriers like the Atlantic, all European carriers, Middle Eastern carriers, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Korean Air fly to LA via their respective hubs.
Investing heavily in infrastructure
Los Angeles International Airport is California’s largest airport, commonly referred to as LAX is undergoing massive modernization with over 14 Billion USD being spent on updating the infrastructure owing to the big ticket events that are to be held in LA in the future. LA is going to play host to some of the biggest events in the world like the FIFA World Cup 2026, MLB All-Star Sports, The Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, and so on. LA is also the host city for the Super Bowl Games every year with an average of 70,000 attendees each year.
Welcoming tourists from around the world
The top 5 source markets for Los Angeles are the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, and India. LA has opened independent offices in all 5 of the above-mentioned destinations in an effort to cater to its large population of international travelers. Speaking from an Indian perspective, Business Travel and Leisure Travel are the two main segments of travelers in the United States. LA has a number of MICE venues, and often business travel is viewed as an incentive as LA is a hub for IT. Leisure travel on the other hand consists of VFR travelers (visiting friends and relatives) as this is a major part of the Indian tourist’s itinerary. The United States is now open to all and has welcomed over 5,80,770 visitors between January 2022 and June 2022, with 73% of travelers being tourists, 17% students and 10% business travelers. LA has revoked the requirement for covid pre-testing and facial mask mandates. As long as you are double vaccinated, there are no other requirements.
LA Insider revamped
The LA Insider online training program is an online training tool for travel trade professionals around the world. It has been designed to help travel agents better sell the destination and stay up to date with its latest offerings. During the pandemic, the LA Insider program had a revamp, with 3 new international modules being introduced. The program can be completed seamlessly in a matter of 30 minutes with objective questions to be read and answered online. The completion of the program comes with many benefits, including an online certification and discounts on excursions and many other benefits for B2B travel agents including a personal itinerary for their next visit. In collaboration with TBO, LA Tourism conducted this program in Pan India with over 250 travel agents participating, mainly those who deal with long-haul destinations like Los Angeles.
Accommodation at its best
From 5-star oceanfront resorts to cozy Hollywood bungalows to contemporary downtown hotels, LA offers the perfect accommodation options to all its visitors. LA has over 1282 hotels with over 114,431 hotel rooms available currently. In the pipeline, are over 26 new hotel projects that are under construction as of now, which will add another 3926 rooms in LA by 2025. There was been a development boom in LA with global brands like Fairmont Century Plaza opening in September, Thompson Hollywood in August, Download LA Proper, Tommie Hollywood – JDV by Hyatt in December, Conrad LA, and The Whisky Hotel in 2022 itself.
Top must-do experiences in LA
Hike to the Hollywood sign-
It’s quite fitting that the Hollywood Sign, the worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry, was conceived as a temporary outdoor ad campaign in 1923 for a suburban housing development called “Hollywoodland”. Today, they offer authorized hiking trails that meander through the rolling chaparral of the Santa Monica Mountains. These hiking trails are open from Sunrise to Sunset, 365 days a year, and offer three routes namely the Mt. Hollywood Trail which is for beginners, the Brush Canyon Trail which is quite moderate and the Cahuenga Peak Trail which is the most difficult, and recommended for experienced hikers only. Once at the top, hikers can come in close contact, absorb in the majestic views and take selfies by the famous Hollywood sign.
Take a renowned LA Food Tour –
The Food Tours of LA offer to take you on a tasting adventure with delicious foods and drinks that have an international influence but are recreated with local style. As you walk and eat, you are entertained with stories of the city and its history. These tours can help you better understand the local and diverse culture and cuisine. From bakeries to Texas-style barbecues, The Downtown LA Food Tour has it all. The West Hollywood Food Tour takes you through authentic Mexican and Italian food options. The Venice Beach Food Tour would take you on the beach front and the Sidewalk Food Tour has something delicious for everyone. Besides that, LA has over 20+ Indian restaurants.
Soak in Art and Cinematic culture at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures–
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and the artists of movie making. The Academy Museum offers exceptional exhibitions and programs that illuminate the world of cinema. The general admission ticket grants access to the art galleries. A separate ticket will be required to visit their popular exhibitions like Stories of Cinema, The Path to Cinema and so on. A special ticket needs to be bought to gain access to The Oscars® Experience as for the other programs and movie screenings. The Academy Museum store and Fanny’s restaurant and café are open to all.
Listen to Music at The Hollywood Bowl-
Since its inception in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been the premier destination for live music in Southern California, hosting everyone from Billie Holiday to The Beatles. Here famous musicians perform under the iconic silhouette of its concentric-arched band shell. The Hollywood Bowl can seat over 80,000 guests and they have its very own Orchestra, which is an international mix of classically trained musicians who are among the best studio musicians in Los Angeles.
“Having a 10-year visa is a great advantage with the USA. If you have a visa, it gives you the opportunity to travel several times to the destination. Though we understand the overall challenges with visas, we foresee them opening up soon. We have had a record number of student visas in 2021 and I’m pretty sure we will close on a great note in 2022 as well!” – Seema Kadam, Regional Director, India – Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
