Tourism

Tourism is the Los Angeles region's second largest industry, with 392,000 full and part-time jobs. It contributes $3.6 billion annually to the region's payroll. In 1991, 25.3 million people visited Los Angeles County, contributing $7.2 billion in direct expenditures. Many of these visitors flock to the region's primary recreation resource, Santa Monica Bay. In the City of Santa Monica alone, 85 percent of the tourists (more than 2.1 million people) visit the beach.

Tourist facilities and activities are abundant around Santa Monica Bay. Hotels, motels, weekly rental apartments, restaurants, shops, and conference facilities all cater to local and out-of-town visitors. In addition, Los Angeles International Airport funnels a large percentage of its 48 million annual passengers into the Santa Monica Bay area for at least a portion of their stay.

Recreation

Recreational features and activities are either natural or developed, commercially or non-commercially operated. Undeveloped natural recreation areas are scarce along the Bay's predominantly urban coastline, and pristine wildlife conditions no longer exist. Yet significant natural resources remain. For example, the Ballona Wetlands Complex (between Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey at the mouth of Ballona Creek) is a surviving wetland area that contributes not only to species diversity but also provides open space and aesthetic enjoyment.

Some relatively undisturbed marsh and riparian habitat is also found in the Malibu Creek drainage, where local residents hope to restore the steelhead run, and the Santa Monica Mountains offer a wide range of natural habitats, especially inland and west of the Malibu coast.

Activities at the 22 public beaches along the 50-mile shoreline include sunbathing, swimming, boating, and surfing, as well as skin- and SCUBA-diving. Over 45 million people visit Santa Monica Bay beaches each year.

Other developed natural recreation facilities include the 22-mile-long beach bike path, which extends from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach, and several bluff-top parks overlooking the Bay.

Commercial recreation opportunities range from bicycle and roller skate rentals, to "fun zone" arcades, restaurants, bars, and art galleries. Some areas have evolved into recreation attractions of their own: Main Street and Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica; the Venice Boardwalk; Malibu Pier; Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey; and King Harbor in Redondo Beach.

Tourist and recreation information in the vicinity of Santa Monica Bay.