Travel Fact

Southern California's $54-billion tourism and hospitality industry is the region's top job creator, providing 861,000 jobs. Tourism and hospitality took over as the region's top industry after the recession decimated the workforce in top industries like wholesale trade and manufacturing. Now, economists predict, tourism will remain the top job creator in the region. "For the foreseeable future, tourism will continue to be the leader," said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Southern California Assn. of Governments.