Las Vegas isn’t only red hot when it comes to gambling, over-the-top hotels, and wild nightlife. The Mojave Desert notoriously reaches sizzling temperatures in the summer, so it comes as no surprise that Sin City’s visitor numbers typically drop during the hotter months of the year.
But this year, Las Vegas has fewer visitors than in previous summers. How is the city responding to this year’s tourism decline?
Declining Vegas Tourism: What You’ll Learn
Analysis of Current Trends: Understand the factors contributing to the decline in tourism in Las Vegas and the impact on the local economy.
Strategic Innovations: Explore the creative strategies and initiatives Las Vegas is implementing to attract tourists and enhance the visitor experience.
New Attractions and Events: Learn about the latest attractions, events, and developments in Las Vegas designed to reinvigorate interest and draw in visitors.
Marketing Strategies: Gain insight into how Las Vegas is leveraging marketing and promotional campaigns to reach potential tourists and boost foot traffic.
Future Projections: Discover expert predictions and analyses about the future of tourism in Las Vegas, including potential recovery and long-term growth strategies.
More than the usual slow days of summer
Tourists tend to prefer the milder seasons of spring and fall, when the climate is more user-friendly, to take full advantage of the city’s gambling, dining, hospitality, and also outdoor activities like golf, hiking, and just walking and spending time outside.
However, Sin City has become noticeably emptier beyond the usual drop in numbers attributed to seasonality. June visitor volume has fallen by more than 11% year-on-year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority (LVCVA).
In one month, Las Vegas Tourism numbers dropped from 3.4 million in 2024 to 3 million this year. If things continue at this rate, Las Vegas is expected to welcome around one million fewer people this summer.
What Las Vegas is doing to overcome the decline
As one of the world’s largest tourism hubs, a severe drop in visitors significantly affects the city and region’s economy, which is trying to fight back and mitigate the decline in visitor spending.
To better understand the initiatives put in place and how the city is fighting back, Casino.org’s gaming expert and senior contributor Ziv Chen travelled to Las Vegas to get up close and personal with the city and locals.
Here’s his account from the ground on the Vegas Strip, Downtown, and everywhere in between.
What were your first impressions?
ZC: Throughout my 25+ years in the gaming industry, I’ve been visiting Las Vegas several times a year, for many years. I’ve been here previously during the summer, which is typically quiet. Was it emptier this time around? At first, it was hard to tell whether it was just another summer when everything was naturally less busy or things were quieter than usual.
The first change I noticed was upon landing in Las Vegas this time around. I flew into Las Vegas in mid-July, and in preparation for the trip, I checked LVCVA numbers ahead of time. Harry Reid International Airport saw 4.7 million passengers in June, more than 6% less than last year.
It did feel a lot less busy than I remembered from previous trips. In fact, I was bracing myself for about an hour, an hour and a half, even to go through passport control and collect my luggage. But it took me less than 30 minutes this time, the quickest ever.
Hotel occupancy is also down by more than 6% this summer, from 88% to 81% of the hotel rooms on Las Vegas Boulevard booked. So, as expected, the check-in process in the hotel I stayed in on the Strip was also much quicker than in previous summers.
Image Credit: UNLV
What are the reasons behind the visitor decline?
Z.C.: I chatted with Amanda Belarmino, Associate Professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Las Vegas in Nevada (UNLV), and here’s what she had to tell Casino.org about the reasons behind the drop in visitor numbers this year:
“The decline in tourism this year is not quite as surprising to those of us here, as we have yet to fully recover to the hotel occupancy levels we had in 2019. 2024 had been our best year post-pandemic, but that is largely attributed to hosting the Super Bowl and the March Madness (Men’s college basketball tournament), which we did not host this year. The rest of the year, however, had been soft.”
While many (including me) focused on fewer air travelers, she gave very interesting insight into visitors who come to Las Vegas via land.
“A large part of the slowdown can be attributed to the wildfires in California, which is our largest domestic market, and that market has been down all year. We are also seeing issues regarding affordability with the shift we have seen from Las Vegas offering more high-end and luxury offerings.”
When asked about what the city should do to mitigate the tourism decline, Mr. Belarmino sounded optimistic and sees opportunities further afield beyond conventional tourism.
“Much of what we are seeing is a decline in leisure tourism, as our convention visitation was up to 2024 in the summer, and our gaming revenue has been up as well.”
“I would argue that reductions in price have been successful, as downtown Las Vegas has done better compared to the summer of 2024. Ultimately, the decisions are up to the operators to decide how they want to price and how that can help impact our tourism economy. Projections for fall 2025 and for 2026, however, are optimistic as early bookings are up, and our fall is typically strong with Raiders football and F1 racing.”
Image Credit: Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock
How important is tourism to Las Vegas’s economy?
ZC: Well, this is an interesting question. Obviously, tourism is huge for Nevada, and especially Las Vegas, but it doesn’t actually make up as large a proportion of the Las Vegas economy as most people think. But as tourism is labor-intensive, it makes a significant impact on the job market. In 2024, Southern Nevada’s tourism industry produced a total of upwards of $55 billion in visitor spending, and this accounts for 31% of the region’s $178 billion GDP.
However, when you’re looking at job creation, the impact of tourism becomes greater. Last year, total expenditure from visitors directly supported over 252,000 jobs. These include dealers, hotel staff, bartenders, performers, and the countless other people who keep the city’s tourism running every day.
In addition, there are indirect jobs, which come from companies that depend on the tourism industry for their income. These indirect service companies added 48,380 additional jobs in 2024 and can range from electricity companies providing servicing to signs for casinos to food and drink distributors stocking hotel kitchens.
On top of these 300,000 or so jobs that I’ve already mentioned, you see what economists call the multiplier effect. When people working directly or indirectly in tourism spend their wages – say, a supplier who earns more after winning a hotel contract – they then create demand for even more jobs in retail, services, and beyond. This demand was the reason for an additional 84,000 jobs in 2024.
Add it all up, and you’re looking at more than 385,000 jobs, which is over half of the region’s entire workforce, coming from tourism in one way or another. So while it might not dominate the GDP on paper, tourism’s influence on employment and household income is huge.
Image Credit: Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock
How is the city responding to the decline in visitor numbers?
Z.C.:.One way hotels and casinos in Las Vegas have been responding to the tourism slowdown is by rolling out a variety of different promotions and incentives, all aimed at attracting visitors back to Sin City. Here are some examples of offers I found online recently.
Targeting Locals
Many hotels in Las Vegas are now looking to lure more local residents to compensate for some of the shortfall in guest numbers. When showing a Nevada resident ID, locals can tap into promotions offered by hotels on the Strip and Downtown.
MGM Resorts offers a two-night package with $150 dining credit for two, 2-for-$55 attraction passes, and 40% off select entertainment, Caesars Entertainment: 15% off stays and 20% off attractions, Resorts World Las Vegas: 20% off room rates, free self-parking, and 20% off restaurants on Thursdays, and Virgin Hotels offer 35% off room rates, free valet and self-parking.
Dropping Resort Fees
Resort fees have long been a source of frustration for Las Vegas visitors. I personally never liked the extra fees (which can be around $50, $75, and even higher per night) to access the internet, gym, and other hotel facilities that should be included in the price of a stay.
Some hotels decided to drop the resort fees for summer, like Sahara and Resorts World, announcing they are waiving this summer nightly resort fees of $55 and $50, respectively.
All-Inclusive Deals
‘Stay-and-Play’ deals aren’t new to Las Vegas tourism visitors. For many years, hotels have been providing food-and-drink vouchers, casino chips, and other perks meant to keep their guests spending at the property. But this summer, as competition increases, properties have been stepping it up with this type of promotion.
Plaza Hotel & Casino (Downtown) is offering two meals per day, unlimited drinks, waived resort and parking fees, and rooftop pool access with food trucks and loungers for £125 per person per night. Circa Resort & Casino (Downtown) is offering $200 dining credit vouchers for two nights at a rate of $400.
Image Credit: UNLV
An Insider’s Perspective from the Hospitality Sector
Z.C.: I met with Anthony Lai, Assistant Director of Career Services & Employer Relations at UNLV’s Harrah College of Hospitality, to better understand how the hospitality sector is dealing with the recent decline in tourism. Here’s what he had to say to Casino.org.
Z.C.: In your opinion, what strategic shifts should the industry prioritize to stabilize revenue while preserving service quality?
A.L.: Las Vegas has evolved far beyond its former image as an inexpensive getaway. Nowadays, our industry should place priority on its premium offerings as it is currently a global stage for high-impact events, including the Super Bowl, Formula 1 Las Vegas, Wrestlemania, and world-class concert residencies. Targeted promotions to attract these events will motivate our leisure travelers to visit during our softer periods.
Z.C.: Some hotels now offer resort-fee waivers and steep discounts. Do you view these as necessary short-term tactics, or do they risk eroding the city’s long-term, luxury brand value?
A.L.: I believe these short-term discounts are a smart move. Visitors appreciate feeling like they are getting a good deal, and in a competitive market, these offers can help spark immediate interest and encourage bookings. As long as they are positioned as limited-time only incentives, they can drive demand without compromising the value.”
Z.C.: Unemployment is 5.8% in Las Vegas, higher than the national average of 4.1%. How is this downturn affecting staffing? Are we seeing layoffs, hiring freezes, or pressure on part-time schedules?
A.L.: The impact is being felt most by part-time and on-call workers, who have their hours reduced and limited shift availability. It is a trend worth watching and can eventually affect full-time workers. However, our workforce has a history of resilience, as it has faced past economic challenges such as COVID-19 and large-scale company restructurings. I am hopeful that our workforce can adapt and adjust quickly in times of uncertainty.
Z.C.: What practical steps can hospitality operators take right now to shield their workforce from cuts, especially when revenues from casino gaming and F&B are under pressure?
A.L: Hospitality operators should invest in training and upskilling their employees so that they can adapt to multiple roles across the operation. This will help reduce the risk of layoffs and provide the workforce with some flexibility to move to unimpacted areas.
Image Credit: Nick Fox/Shutterstock
Z.C.: Can the current slowdown be reframed as an opportunity for innovation, niche services, or differentiated guest experiences? Or is the setback too steep for newcomers to gain traction?
A.L.: In hospitality, the essence of service and memorable guest experiences still comes from human interaction. The rise of technology may enhance the service, but the human experience can never be replaced. For newcomers, this is an ideal time to innovate in how we blend technology with human touch.
Z.C.: Looking ahead, how can the industry become more resilient against tourism volatility? Should diversification strategies. Like bolstering convention bookings or non-gaming revenue streams- play a greater role?
A.L.: Yes, and we are already moving in that direction. Las Vegas is attracting more sports leagues and major events to the city, which adds new demand streams beyond our traditional gaming consumer. These strategies show that we are not exclusively dependent on a single market segment and keep Las Vegas competitive on a global scale.
Z.C.: What’s your core message to aspiring hospitality leaders about building resilience and future-readiness in this cyclical, high-pressure environment?
A.L.: Make the most of every opportunity in your career development. Prioritize mentoring and networking, and be open to roles that may not perfectly match your ideal position but can get your foot in the door. Each experience, even those outside your immediate goals, can build skills, connections, and perspective that will strengthen your resilience and prepare you for leadership in this industry.
Z.C.: Do you anticipate this tourism slowdown to be a temporary soft patch, or are we witnessing structural shifts, such as higher pricing thresholds or policy-driven visitor hesitance, that require more fundamental industry adjustments?
A.L.: Las Vegas tourism has always moved in waves, and the city remains a highly desirable destination. However, to maintain that appeal, we must listen closely to our visitors and adapt to their evolving preferences. Whether it’s adjusting pricing strategies, enhancing value, or refreshing the guest experience, staying responsive will ensure we navigate temporary slowdowns while preparing for any longer-term shifts.
