Key Takeaways
- The number of visitors to Las Vegas fell by 11% in June, and was down 7% through the first six months of this year.
- Over a whole year, 7% would be the largest decline in more than 50 years, bigger than the drop felt during the Great Recession.
- Experts have pointed to several reasons for the drop, from a lackluster U.S. economy to a decline in international travel and changing habits among generations.
Las Vegas, one of America’s most popular tourist destinations, is showing signs of a downturn. Data released at the end of July showed that visitor volume has declined in each of the first six months of the year.
In June, visitor traffic dropped 11% from last year, with hotel rates and revenue per room also slipping, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).
What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas, But Less Is Happening Right Now
Officials at the LVCVA blamed weaker consumer confidence, ongoing economic uncertainty, and fewer big conferences for June’s steep decline.
Through the first six months of the year, the number of visitors to Las Vegas was down about 7.3% compared with the same time a year ago. If the trend continues, 2025 could see the sharpest annual drop since records began in 1970—bigger than 4.4% and 3% drops during the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009…