Las Vegas tourism slows

Las Vegas recorded an 11.3% drop in visitors in June and a 10.7% decline in convention attendees, signaling a tourism slowdown for the city.

Las Vegas confronts tourism downturn as costs rise

Las Vegas posted an 11.3% drop in visitors in June and a 10.7% decline in convention goers compared with the same month last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Empty hotel rooms and quieter casino floors painted a cautious mood on the Strip, while service workers watched slower turnover and smaller tips. ARIA Resort & Casino housekeeper Shaleah Taylor said the slowdown is visible as she commutes past a usually crowded Strip, calling the period slow and worrying.

The downturn exposes a fragile balance for a city built on constant motion. A decline in international visitors hits harder when domestic demand softens, and the gains from local gaming revenue offer a partial, not complete, cushion. Analysts point to several pressures that could extend the slowdown: higher hotel prices and gambling minimums that deter price sensitive travelers, and external factors such as shifts in immigration policy and tariff battles that affect travel costs and willingness to cross borders. Canada remains a key market, with projections of a sharp drop in air traffic to Las Vegas, while the World Travel & Tourism Council warns of a broader international drag. Yet the data also shows resilience at the tables, with Clark County gaming revenue up 3.5% and a standout performance from local venues in Boulder Highway and downtown. That contrast hints at a shift in who is driving the market and what draws people to gamble.

Highlights

The city faces a test: turn a price led slowdown into a lasting strategy for sustainable growth.