PHOTO: The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most Instagrammed places in the world. (photo via Flickr/Andrew) When it comes to the value of tourism, San Francisco residents really get it.A recent survey revealed that residents believe it is the most important industry in the city, according to the San Francisco Travel Association.That doesn’t come as a surprise; Residents said the same thing in a similar survey taken five years ago. “Based on these independent findings, it is deeply gratifying to see the vast majority of San Francisco residents continue to appreciate the important role tourism plays in the economic vitality of our city” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association.MORE Destination & TourismNinety-eight percent of residents said that “Tourism is very important or important to the vitality of the city’s economy.” When asked what is “the city’s most important industry,” more than half, 56 percent, agreed or strongly agreed that it was tourism. Residents also believe that the financial health of the city is reliant upon tourism with more than 96 percent agreeing that tourism was important to the city budget. “As a member of the travel and tourism sector, it is extremely rewarding to learn that our fellow San Franciscan’s value the benefits tourism provides in terms of city services,” said Rodrigo Enriquez, Chair of San Francisco Travel Association’s Board of Directors. READ MORE: Discover LA Spreads Message of Inclusivity Amid Trump Slump It’s possible that the fact residents see tangible benefits from tourism in their everyday lives makes them so amenable and inviting to tourism. Seventy-three percent of respondents said that “tourism makes San Francisco a better place to live.” Seventy-nine percent of residents also agree there is a “healthy balance of tourism and resident activity” in the city and that they look to politicians who are willing to invest in and promote tourism in the Bay Area.