The Region - News from May 24, 1985

A record 43 million visitors flocked to Los Angeles County in 1984--good news for business people fearful that nightmarish predictions of smog and congestion during the Summer Olympics had badly damaged the tourism trade. Figures compiled by the Greater Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau indicate that last year’s visitors spent more than $9 billion in the county. In 1983, the county welcomed 41.8 million tourists, who spent $8.5 billion. Tourism’s best year before 1984 was in 1981, when 42.6 million tourists visited the area, spending $8.8 billion. Industry representatives are expected to formally unveil the 1984 statistics today during ceremonies at City Hall celebrating “National Tourism Week.”