'They just don't come': What's making L.A.'s tourism tumble

"Months of negative news have triggered a tough summer for tourism in Los Angeles, deepening the economic woes for a city buffeted by natural disasters and immigration raids. Tourist arrivals fell by close to 10% this season, according to the latest numbers from Visit California. The region's economy and image suffered significant setbacks this year. Shocking images of the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires in January, followed by the immigration crackdown in June, made global news and repelled visitors."

"Meanwhile, President Trump's fickle tariff policies and other geopolitical posturing have convinced many international tourists to avoid America. On Hollywood Boulevard, there are fewer tourists, and the ones who show up spend less, says Salim Osman. He works for Ride Like A Star, an exotic car company that rents to visitors looking to take a luxury vehicle for a spin and snap the quintessential L.A. selfie."

"However, this summer, foot traffic dropped by nearly 50%. "It used to be shoulder to shoulder out here," he said, looking along the boulevard. "It's a lot harder for people to come here, or they're afraid of what's going on here, so they just don't come." Business has been slow around the TCL Chinese Theater, where visitors place their hands into the concrete handprints of celebrities like Kristen Stewart and Denzel Washington."

Tourist arrivals to Los Angeles declined by close to 10% this summer, reversing years of growth and harming the regional economy. January wildfires and shocking images of the Eaton and Palisades blazes damaged the city's image and repelled visitors. A June immigration crackdown further reduced international travel to the region. President Trump's tariff threats and geopolitical posturing discouraged many international tourists, especially Canadians. Hollywood Boulevard experienced steep drops in foot traffic and visitor spending, with some businesses reporting up to a 50% decline. Souvenir retailers faced higher wholesale costs because of increased tariffs, and sightseeing services reported markedly lower demand.

Read at Los Angeles Times