Roughly 3,500 of this county's unionized hotel workers--or 40% of the total unionized hotel workforce--have already lost their jobs or had their hours cut in the days since the attacks, according to the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and union representatives. Hotels and theme parks have seen their business plunge because so many business and leisure travelers have cancelled their travel plans for security or economic reasons.

The number of furloughed workers will grow to nearly 41,000 by next June, LA convention officials say, as the drop in tourism has a domino effect on other segments of the travel-related industry. Hotel bed-tax revenue, which last year generated more than $103 million, is expected to fall by at least 15%.

California Governor Gray Davis last week authorized spending $5 million to help promote tourism across the state. But some analysts say that's not nearly enough, noting that Las Vegas alone has already announced plans to spend $13 million to lure visitors back to the gaming paradise.