As the COVID-19 pandemic began to surge across the country and more people became ill from the virus, many states decided to shut down all non-essential businesses and close their borders. Among the first states to do so was California — declaring a state of emergency and shutdown on March 4, 2020.
While it was one of the first states to shut down, it was also one of the last to reopen — which did not happen fully until June 15, 2021. However, now that California has finally reopened, its massive tourism industry can once again begin to thrive. One of the largest tourist destinations in the state is the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland Resort.
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently spoke to Good Times Santa Cruz about tourism finally coming back to the state, what it means for the state, and the role that Disneyland plays in bringing the California economy back. When asked what travel to California meant to the state, Newsom said:
“This was a $145-billion-a-year industry. No other state comes close, including Florida. So there’s no state that has more to gain, in terms of fully reopening. The vast majority, overwhelming majority of the state has been operating, but with some limitations. This just removes the final limitations, in terms of physical distancing and capacity.
The tourism industry is part of the spirit and pride of the state. What makes California such a special place is the incredible diversification of options and opportunities for experiences, for magical moments.”
Speaking of magical moments, Disneyland Resort is one of the ultimate places where magical moments happen every single day. California’s June 15 reopening meant massive changes for the theme park — from mask requirements being relaxed to capacity limits being completely lifted. It also meant that Guests from all over the country would once again be able to experience that magic.
Governor Newsom shared the following regarding Disneyland’s importance to California’s recovery:
“It’s emblematic. It’s a proxy for the rest of the state. Disneyland is of such iconic status that it’s a confidence boost, perhaps more than anything else. It has a very substantial regional economic impact, which is important.”
While Disneyland doesn’t need anything extra to bring in the visitors, it has an incredible new addition to Disney California Adventure that is sure to make Disneyland Resort a top tourist destination this summer — the opening of Avengers Campus. The new area is a perfect addition to the theme park and is a vacation destination for the world’s Marvel fans.
In 2019, The Orange County Register reported that Disneyland Resort was responsible for generating almost $9 billion for the southern California economy — and that was before Avengers Campus was even open! With people being unable to travel due to shutdowns and being unable to visit Disneyland for over 400 days, the theme park may be able to generate even more now as people clamor for their Disney fix.
Governor Newsom was quick to acknowledge just how much California’s recovery means to the country as a whole.
“There is no American recovery without California’s recovery. The good news is the state’s economic recovery is well underway. That should create optimism not just in California, but throughout the United States.”
Will you be visiting Disneyland now that California has reopened? Are you an out-of-state Disney fan who plans to travel to California? Let us know in the comments!
CLICK HERE to book your magical Disneyland Resort vacation with our friends at Academy Travel!
