Newsom calls for ‘staycations’ on eve of California reopening

Governor urges Californians to keep cash at home while announcing vaccine sweepstakes

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — California is urging its citizens to help jump-start the economy on the eve of the state’s reopening with a call to spend their vacation dollars in the state while announcing help for the state’s tourism industry and a new vacation incentive for people to get vaccinated.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced a series of investments in the travel and tourism industry at a press conference Monday at San Francisco’s Ferry Building to highlight his proposed California Comeback Plan which would include $95 million to aid the state’s tourism economy.

Beginning on Tuesday, the state’s reopening means hotels, restaurants, wineries, bars, live music venues, cardrooms, breweries, museums, zoos, retail centers, family entertainment centers and aquariums are open without capacity restrictions. All state and national parks and beaches will also to reopen.

The Governor also talked about mask guidelines for business owners after Tuesday's reopening.

The state said it lost nearly half the 1.2 million jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries during the pandemic and with the funding, it anticipates regaining more than 300,000 of those jobs within a year, an increase that would normally take multiple years, according to a press statement.

Newsom also encouraged Californians to visit or revisit the state’s landmark destinations this summer and unveiled a new incentive for Californians to get vaccinated. The Vax for the Win California Dream Vacations giveaway is a drawing for one of six different vacation packages to Anaheim, Greater Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.

The California vacation drawing will be held July 1, with all Californians aged 18 and older who are at least partially vaccinated being eligible to win.