Tourism Thrives Despite News of Gangs

Los Angeles’ enormous popularity as a vacation and business destination apparently has not suffered significantly from the barrage of nationwide publicity about local gang violence, according to industry officials.

“If we were Wichita, Kan., we’d be in bad shape, but because we are Los Angeles, we continue to have an image as a desirable place to visit,” said Bill Miller, the new executive vice president of the Greater Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Out-of-towners heading here now for conventions booked years in advance are calling for assurances of safety, but so far no one has canceled their gathering, according to Pat Gunness, national sales manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“We do get a lot of concerned calls,” Gunness said. “People voice their fears because they don’t perceive the distances in Los Angeles. They perceive Los Angeles as one cosmopolitan urban center.”

She said most tourists are unaware that the problems are confined to a few neighborhoods.

Since Jan. 1, the Los Angeles Police Department has recorded 143 gang-related murders. In response, the department beefed up its enforcement efforts and declared 1988 to be the “Year of Gang Control.”

There were 67 gang-related deaths during the same period in the 30 cities and unincorporated areas of the county served by the Sheriff’s Department, a spokesman said.

Despite the steady nationwide publicity about the city’s gang problems, the mayor’s office remains upbeat.

Concern About Freeway Shootings

“People are still saying Los Angeles is the place to be,” said mayoral press secretary Fred MacFarlane. “I don’t think people see this as a city-wide gang rampage.” He said more visitors were concerned about last year’s rash of freeway shootings because that type of crime is random, rather than limited to certain neighborhoods.

Most tourists are unaware of gang activity unless they don red or blue bandannas (the predominant gang colors) and go into the inner city to buy illegal drugs, MacFarlane jokingly said.

A stable group of retailers and business people who have learned to weather gang troubles remain within the troubled areas of South-Central Los Angeles, according to Greg Dimmitt, program manager for the Greater Watts enterprise zone. The zone is one of four established by the city to encourage business development through economic incentives.

“Some business owners have found bullet casings in their parking lots,” Dimmitt said. “But the gangs tend to target each other rather than the businesses.”

He said most businesses in the areas frequented by gangs are willing to accept the gang presence in exchange for lower land and rental costs. And, instead of fleeing from the area, more businesses are moving in.

“Since the beginning of the year, our projects have created 135 jobs,” said Dimmitt. “Our efforts also kept a company with 700 employees from leaving the area.”

Still, some new businesses are reluctant to locate in a neighborhood plagued by gangs, according to Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Gangs cause a problem in attracting jobs to areas that need jobs,” Kyser said. Business owners he speaks with are concerned about the safety of their workers.

“It’s sad, but through no fault of their own they are in the battle zone,” he said.

Despite the steady publicity about gang violence, visitors are still heading to Los Angeles. Convention and Visitors Bureau statistics on summer visitors will not be tabulated for several months. But travel industry experts said although summer business did not break any records, it was strong.

“Gang activity hasn’t stopped people from going to the West Coast,” said Herb Edelberg, president of Direct Travel Inc. in Manhattan. “In New York, we are used to that sort of thing.”

Few Effects on Hotels

Edelberg said clients heading to California do not mention any fear of gang violence to his employees.

And, at the city’s major hotels, business is good.

“Frankly, we couldn’t hope for better business,” said Cathy Boire, spokeswoman for the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. “We have taken better steps to protect our guests and we have a good relationship with the police,” she said.

Hilton Hotel guests or employees have not experienced any problems relating to gang violence, according to Don Berg, national media manager for Hilton Hotel Corp. in Beverly Hills.

“Our local hotels have been setting records throughout the company. It hasn’t really affected us at all.”