Tourism Tourism is California’s fourth largest employer and fifth largest contributor to the gross state product. The tourism industry has experienced an unparalleled crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic. Early estimates peg COVID-19 costing the Coachella Valley nearly $3.5 billion in lost revenue. The losses also eliminated 24,000 jobs in the hospitality sector, officials said.It is crucial that policymakers act quickly to help the tourism industry rebound in a thoughtful and strategic manner. The Greater Coachella Valley economy is especially dependent on tourism, where visitor spending accounts for more than $5.9 billion in annual revenue. The economic generating power of the Coachella Valley’s tourism sector—from major festivals to sports, arts and entertainment to hospitality, and the thousands of other retailers and small businesses that serve visiting tourists—is absolutely essential to the economic health of Riverside County. Economic wellbeing is tied to the ability of Riverisde County’s tourism industry to open and operate in a safe and responsible manner. Legislation should focus on restoring, supporting and protecting the County and State’s tourism industry through responsible advocacy working with elected officials, government agencies, and the public.
Positions T-1: Protecting the Coachella Valley and surrounding tourist destination public lands as critical to enabling a growing share of Riverside County’s jobs and economic impact. T-2: Encouraging public-private partnerships for increased investment in tourism projects. T-3: Encouraging partnerships between visitors’ bureaus, convention centers, hotel operators, and economic development leaders to showcase Riverside County expansion and growth opportunities to tourists and visiting business leaders. T-4: Support for ease of access to multi-modal mobility options for tourists and visiting business leaders to reach their destinations. T-5: Support investment in infrastructure to support leisure destinations and tourism attractions. T-6: Support government incentives for attracting private investment for dining, entertainment, and lodging establishments. T-7: Encouraging thoughtful employment regulation which recognizes the complexities of large-site, tourist destinations. T-8: Recognizing the importance of investment in tourism assets, encourage CEQA and other regulatory process reform to streamline development which will promote economic recovery and growth. T-9: Oppose policy that would restrict access to development of infrastructure that supports large scale events and tourism, such as prohibitions against Short Term Vacation Rentals (STVR’s) and restrictive zoning policy.
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