An Update From CTTC Executive Director Caroline Beteta

Southern California Wildfires

Due to the wildfires currently affecting large areas of Southern California, the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) is taking a leadership role to help and calm the fears of prospective visitors. Our hearts are with the victims of these devastating wildfires, and we’re doing what we can to help industry members in the affected areas recover from the disaster. Even with conditions expected to change for the better in the coming days, CTTC is dedicating much time and effort toward this crisis.

CTTC, along with our Southern California partners, is working quickly to put out the message that, contrary to some media headlines, not all California is closed for business. Southern California airports, hotels and most attractions and businesses are still open and fully operational. Additionally, most of California remains unaffected by the fires, including the Deserts, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Gold Country, High Sierra, North Coast and Shasta Cascade regions. CTTC is urging visitors to call ahead to confirm reservations, flight times, road conditions and hours of operation instead of canceling travel plans.

To that extent, we are communicating with consumers, media and travel trade, both domestic and international, through outreach efforts, e-mail alerts and daily updates with local and statewide news and current information on the visitcalifornia.com Web site. In addition to these updates, links and contact information for local and statewide organizations and specific attractions are posted at visitcalifornia.com.

We are also in close contact with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his entire administration to keep abreast of state efforts and to lessen the crisis’ detrimental effects on tourism. For updated information on CTTC’s efforts to maintain tourism levels, check visitcalifornia.com for updates. Media, please visit our Press Room for similar information.

Even though this is an ever-changing situation, we are confident that the California tourism industry will fully recover. As many of you recently received your renewal ballots, it’s more important than ever to vote “Yes” and keep CTTC’s marketing programs going strong. As an industry leader, CTTC will continue its aggressive marketing efforts to help Southern California businesses and the entire California tourism industry stay where it belongs – at the top.

Sincerely,

Executive Director