Wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles wants tourists to help the area recover and rebuild

As Los Angeles slowly begins to assess the damage caused by the recent wildfires, it is clear that rebuilding will take years and cost huge sums of money. Some reports estimate costs as high as 40 billion USD. Not to mention threat of further fire remains strong as Santa Ana winds and dry conditions persist. The possibility of rain this weekend offers hope that the worst of the fires may be over – although rain could bring new challenges for the region.

In response to the devastating and prolonged situation, LA Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order on January 21 ordered urgent cleanup of burned areas and reduce fire-related pollutants in local stormwater, beach and ocean water systems. The order also directs city public works crews to clear and remove vegetation, put reinforced concrete fencing on hillsides, spread sandbags and clear debris from affected neighborhoods. impact before rain.

“With rain forecast, we are forced to take drastic action to prevent further damage in burned areas and protect our waters and oceans from dangerous currents,” Bass said in a press release. dangerous”. “These communities have already suffered unimaginable loss – we are taking action to combat further harm.”

The Eaton and Palisades fires killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. According to Associated PressThe Palisades fire was 61% contained and the Eaton fire was 87% contained as of Tuesday.

As city and county leaders begin the recovery process, tourism and hospitality officials have announced that the City of Angels wants and needs the support of visitors.

“Los Angeles has always been a beacon to the world – where dreams are born and stories unfold from the shadows,” Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta said in a press release to TPG. silver to iconic landmarks.” “One of the best ways to support the return of Los Angeles is to plan a trip.”

Like Maui After suffering a devastating wildfire, Los Angeles is hoping the tourism industry can help jumpstart the economic recovery process after the disaster. The fire not only destroyed homes and entire neighborhoods, but also local businesses.

“The city, along with its iconic locations and experiences – Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Getty and Getty Villas, Griffith Observatory and many others – remains,” said Beteta. intact and accessible to visitors from all over the world.” . Of course, some people wonder if it was the right time to visit the city so soon after the devastation.

Is now the right time to visit Los Angeles?

This is a difficult question. Just as Maui is grappling with balancing its vitally important tourism industry and the rebuilding needs of locals, LA must deal with a similarly delicate situation.

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Apparently, areas hardest hit by the fires, like the Pacific Palisades, will be off-limits to visitors. Many people still cannot go home to survey the damage; The last thing they or first responders need are intrusive tourists trying to get a close look. the Air quality remains poor in some parts of LA, so that’s also something to consider before booking a trip.

However, many stores and restaurants have reopened in popular areas such as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and West Hollywood. To highlight the urgency of keeping tourism afloat and supporting recovery efforts, the city’s tourism and hospitality officials issued a call to action on January 21, urging Tourists do not cancel their travel plans.

According to their statement in a press release sent to TPG, more than 540,000 people are employed in the LA tourism industry in some capacity, and a significant number of those employees could be affected under somehow by forest fires. The influx of tourists and the money they spend helps them get back on their feet.

To give you an idea of ​​how important tourism is to a city’s bottom line, nearly 50 million people visited Los Angeles in 2023, contributing more than $40 billion in revenue to the local economy along the way . Additionally, in 2023, travelers contributed $312 million in Transient Occupancy Tax revenue from their hotel stays.

What’s open in Los Angeles?

As we mentioned earlier, many of the city’s most popular attractions have reopened. Warner Bros. And Supreme image both have resumed their Hollywood studio tours. Major theme parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott’s Berry Farm are all back in business, as are the world-famous Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park (featuring the iconic Hollywood sign).

Most museums — including the Natural History Museum at Exposition Park, the La Brea Tar Pits, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — are also back in business.

Speaking of Oscars, the film adaptation of “Wicked” just won 10 Academy Award nominations. If you’re in LA and want to see the stage musical’s tour, then yes continues to perform at the Pantages Theater and will play through February 2.

However, there are still some attractions that have not reopened yet. the Getty Museum in Los Angeles remains closed until January 27. Meanwhile, Getty Villa — which despite being located in the Pacific Palisades, escaped major wildfire damage — is closed until further notice. Popular Runyon Canyon and Will Rogers State Historic parks are also closed.

How you can help Los Angeles recover

One of the easiest ways to contribute to recovery efforts as a visitor is to help the local economy a little. Dine LA Restaurant Week will run from January 24 to February 7; You can find a list of participating restaurants and make reservations This. Every reservation at one of these restaurants will benefit wildfire relief efforts coordinated by the American Red Cross.

Another easy way to contribute is to attend one of the many fundraising events taking place in the city over the next few weeks. Explore Los Angeles has an extensive list Upcoming relief efforts on their website.

Something else is essential? Volunteer. Some LA-based organizations needing help include:

• Habitat for Humanity LA: It needs donations and volunteers to help wildfire survivors rebuild.
• LA Food Bank: Many people are needed to help local food banks feed the thousands of people affected by the fires.
• LA Animal Services: It needs pet foster parents to help with the number of dogs and cats that have turned up at local shelters since the fires started.

There are more volunteer resources on the city’s website official website.

We will update this story when we have more information.