Las Vegas tourism falters

Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centres reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad, and some officials are blaming the Trump administration’s tariffs and immigration policies for the decline.

The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11 per cent drop, compared to the same month in 2024. There were 13 per cent fewer international travellers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15 per cent, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Mayor Shelley Berkley said tourism from Canada – Nevada’s largest international market – has dried up from a torrent “to a drip”. Same with Mexico.

“We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that aren’t so keen on coming in right now. And that seems to be the prevailing attitude internationally,” Berkley told reporters this month.

Ted Pappageorge, head of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, called it the “Trump slump”. He said visits from Southern California, home to a large Latino population, were also drying up because people are afraid of the administration’s immigration crackdown.

“If you tell the rest of the world they’re not welcome, then they won’t come,” Pappageorge said.

The Vegas dip mirrors a national trend. The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics, which in December 2024 anticipated that the United States would have nearly nine per cent more international arrivals this year, revised its annual outlook to predict a 9.4 per cent drop. Some of the steepest declines could be from Canada, the company said. Canada was the largest source of visitors to the US in 2024, with more than 20.2 million, according to US government data.

Canadian airline data shows fewer passengers from north of the border are arriving at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Air Canada saw its passenger numbers fall by 33 per cent in June compared to a year earlier, while WestJet had a 31 per cent drop. The low-cost carrier Flair reported a whopping 62 per cent decline.

Travel agents in Canada said there’s been a significant downturn in clients wanting to visit the US overall, and Las Vegas in particular. Wendy Hart, who books trips from Windsor, Ontario, said the reason was “politics, for sure”. She speculated it was a point of “national pride” that people were staying away from the US after US President Donald Trump said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state.

“The tariffs are a big thing, too. They seem to be contributing to the rising cost of everything,” Hart said.

At the downtown Circa Resort and Casino, international visits have dipped, especially from Canada and Japan, according to owner and CEO Derek Stevens. But the downturn comes after a post-pandemic spike, Stevens said. And while hotel room bookings are slack, gaming numbers, especially for sports betting, are still strong, he said.

“It’s not as if the sky is falling,” he remarked. Wealthier visitors are still coming, and Circa has introduced inexpensive package deals to lure those with less money to spend.

“There have been many stories written about how the ‘end is near’ in Vegas,” he said. “But Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting.”

On AAA’s annual top 10 list of top US Labor Day destinations, Las Vegas slipped this year to the last spot, from No. 6 in 2024. Seattle and Orlando, Florida – home to Disney World – hold steady in the top two spots, with New York City moving up to third place for 2025.

Reports of declining tourism were news to Alison Ferry, who arrived from Donegal, Ireland, to find big crowds at casinos and the Vegas Strip.

“It’s very busy. It has been busy everywhere that we’ve gone. And really, really hot,” Ferry said. She added that she doesn’t pay much attention to US politics.

Just off the strip, there’s been no slowdown at the Pinball Museum, which showcases games dating back to the 1930s. Manager Jim Arnold said the two-decade-old attraction is recession-proof because it’s one of the few places that offers free parking and admission.

“We’ve decided that our plan is just to ignore inflation and pretend it doesn’t exist,” Arnold said. “So you still take a quarter out of your pocket and put it in a game, and you don’t pay a resort fee or a cancellation fee or any of that jazz.”

But Arnold said he’s not surprised overall tourism might be slowing, citing skyrocketing pricing at high-end restaurants and resorts that “squeezes out the low-end tourist”.

The mayor said the rising costs of food, hotel rooms and attractions also keep visitors away.

“People are feeling that they’re getting nickelled and dimed, and they’re not getting value for their dollar,” Berkley said. She called on business owners to “see if we can’t make it more affordable” for tourists.

“And that’s all we want. We want them to come and have a good time, spend their money, go home,” the mayor said. “Then come back in six months.”

AP