Los Angeles set a new record for tourism in 2018, marking the eighth consecutive year of growth, officials announced Jan. 17.The county hosted 50 million visitors, a 3.1 percent increase over 2017 and in line with tourism goals Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti set for 2020. Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board Chief Executive Ernest Wooden Jr. and Garcetti attributed the continued boom to increased seat capacity at Los Angeles International Airport; 2,000 more hotel rooms coming online; the city’s reputation as a cultural hub and their global marketing campaign, “L.A. Loves.” The bump in tourism helped grow the hospitality industry 4.4 percent over the prior year, supporting 547,000 jobs and making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy.