The Sun
AN iconic area of Los Angeles has seen a dramatic decline in visitors this year.
The City of Angels is reporting 50% plummet in tourism, particularly in the Hollywood district.
Sign up for The US Sun
newsletter
2
Hollywood has long established itself as one of the most famous LA neighbourhoods.
From the iconic hillside sign to the Walk of Fame, tourists from across the globe have flocked to the area for decades.
However, visitor numbers have recently slumped, sparking fears for the future of LA, which is set to host the Olympics in 2028.
Dramatic drop-off
Visit California revealed tourist numbers dropped by 10% in summer 2025, in comparison with the previous year.
Meanwhile, businesses on Hollywood's iconic boulevard said customer numbers had plunged by up to 50%.
This has raised the prospect of the famous showbusiness neighborhood potentially entering into a terminal decline.
The Los Angeles Times attributed a variety of problems to this downturn.
Wildfires swept many areas in LA in January and while Hollywood went unscathed, the city as a whole has struggled in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, images of riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June were published across the world.
The demonstrations were confined to Downtown LA, which is located just a few miles from Hollywood.
‘Go full Great Gatsby to get the best out of New York - not just the city, but the state’
Canadian tourism
And President Trump's tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st US state have also had a huge impact, with the state relying heavily on tourism from the neighbors in the north.
Visitors from Canada to Los Angeles are reported to have fallen by approximately 30% in June and July 2025.
"We've hurt our Canadian Friends with actions that the administration has taken. It's understandable," Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said.
"We don't know how long they won't want to travel to the States, but we're hopeful that it is short-term."
Souvenir shop owners told the Los Angeles Times how they were forced to raise prices because of tariffs and a decline in sales.
California dream
America is officially the next summer Olympic host now this year's Paris games have come to an end.
Los Angeles will become a three-time host city when it stages the games in July 2028, joining London and Paris in doing so.
The US has previously hosted four summer Olympics and eight overall.
The historic Coliseum and brand new SoFi Stadium will feature heavily in LA's staging of it's third Olympic Games in history.
Recovery efforts
"Los Angeles is California's primary international gateway; the impacts are felt statewide," Adam Burke, president of Los Angeles Tourism, told the outlet.
"Looking ahead, long-term recovery will depend on global economic conditions and how the US is perceived abroad."
Cynthia Guidry, the director of the Long Beach Airport, also spoke to the newspaper, citing reduced airline schedules and rising costs as having a major impact.
"We're focused on attracting new service, growing non-aeronautical revenue, and managing expenses to stay resilient," she explained.
And things aren't looking great at other tourism hotspots, with Yosemite National Park reporting a 50% decrease in bookings ahead for Memorial Day weekend.
Meanwhile, tourists have blasted Las Vegas for the ever-inflating prices.
And now Sin City is launching a new five-day sales event in an effort to entice visitors back.
2