Mayor Jim Hahn, accompanied by Hollywood's biggest action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Dodger Kazuhisa Ishii, unveiled the celebrity-driven See My LA tourism program today. The campaign tries to boost Japanese travelers to Los Angeles, the entertainment capital as well as the home of the Dodgers.

Here we see Arnold Schwarzenegger along with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii sharing a joke before they get down to business.


"Arnold and I miss seeing our Japanese friends on the streets of Los Angeles and Hollywood and are here to personally invite them to visit LA in 2003," Mayor Hahn said. "We want our Japanese friends to come visit the shops, restaurants and sights in the world's entertainment capital."

Mayor Hahn expects the "See My LA" campaign and other tourism packages to increase travel from Japan by 3 percent, generating an additional $12 million to the City's economy in 2003. He made the announcement on the sixth day of his 10-day trade and tourism mission to Asia.


Mayor Hahn has enlisted celebrities and sports figures, including Schwarzenegger and Ishii, to participate in the "See My LA" campaign that will tout celebrities' favorite aspects of LA.

"Los Angeles captured my heart the first time I stepped foot on the beach here more than 30 years ago," said Schwarzenegger. "I am traveling with Mayor Hahn to remind my friends in Japan of the business, culture and diversity that makes LA such a wonderful place and to encourage them to come back and experience the excitement of Los Angeles for themselves."

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Randy Jennings