Foreign travelers at Los Angeles International Airport dropped 19 percent year on year in March as Los Angeles and other U.S. cities grapple with a decline in foreign visitors that economists say will further affect the U.S. economy.
Los Angeles is a popular city, luring visitors from all over the world with such attractions as Hollywood, Universal City, Disneyland and its beautiful beaches.
But statistics released by Los Angeles World Airports on Thursday show that the number of domestic and international passengers at Los Angeles International Airport, the world's sixth largest airport, declined to 4.6 million in March 2009 from 5.2 million in the same month of 2008, a drop of about 12.6 percent overall. The number of international travelers fell from 1.5 million to 1.2 million for the same period.
Overall, the United States saw a decrease of 9 percent in international visitors nationwide in January from the same period last year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
About 3.1 million foreign travelers visited the United States in January and spent 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in the month, which was a 7 percent decrease.
Los Angeles and other cities, even the state of California, have worked hard to attract visitors from China and other countries.
Los Angeles opened a first-of-its-kind city tourism office in Beijing in 2006. In January, the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) announced that it was opening an office in China.
CTTC chief executive officer, Caroline Beteta, said international tourism is a bright spot in California's economy, and Chinese visitors are among the top spenders.
The China office is the seventh California has opened abroad. It also has offices in Britain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany and Mexico. International tourists generate 16.7 billion dollars, or 17 percent, to the state's tourism budget.
While the global financial crisis and resurgence of the U.S. dollar are viewed as factors causing the decline in foreign visitors, strict visa controls and complex security procedures are also taking their toll on visitors.
The U.S. travel industry is expected to shed more than 200,000 jobs this year.
The U.S. Travel Association has called for expansion of the Global Entry Program, availability of the program at more U.S. airports and increased participation by making the program's enrollment more convenient and accessible.
The Global Entry Program is limited to those considered low-risk after a vigorous background check. Once approved, members can use kiosks at international airports in New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami.
Identification is confirmed by fingerprints and all arriving passengers are subject to inspection.
The United States has held talks with China on making it easier for travel agencies in China to get visas for travelers.
Source:Xinhua
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