In Las Vegas, tourism numbers witnessed another substantial decline, with a 12% drop in visitors for July. Additionally, the revenue generated by tourists has decreased.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported on Friday that hotel occupancy in July was at 76.1%, which is a fall of 7.6% from the previous year’s 83.7% in the same month.
Steve Hill, president and CEO of the LVCVA, identified at least two reasons for this trend: people are opting to stay home to save money, and international travel has become more costly due to federal policies.
“For example, a family of four needing a visa to visit the U.S. would need to pay around $1,150, which is prohibitive for many families. Additionally, the visa approval process is lengthy in non-waiver countries,” Hill explained.
Average room rates are down 3.4% $154.76 compared to $160.15 in July 2024.
Another key indicator of resort profitability, RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room), has diminished significantly compared to the previous year. RevPAR has declined by 12.1%, with each room earning $117.77 daily, a notable decrease from $134.05 last July. This measure reflects guest spending levels at the resorts.
Hill addressed recent headlines that have cast Las Vegas as too expensive.
“Don’t believe that narrative. Vegas is not too expensive. Vegas is still a value and there are great values out there right now,” Hill said.
“Don’t rely solely on headlines. Research by contacting travel agents or the properties themselves. Discover the true cost of visiting Las Vegas instead of relying on general statements that may not be accurate,” Hill advised.
Some resorts have countered the drop in tourism by offering free parking and waiving resort fees. Hill sees that as a sign of how competitive the market is right now.
He said the LVCVA has new initiatives coming soon that intend to show people that Las Vegas has an offering for every budget.
LVCVA’s report cited slower tourism trends of recent months that continued into July.
Casinos came out of July with improved winnings compared to last July, up about 4% as gamblers lost $1.36 billion. Las Vegas Strip casinos showed a 3.24% increase, winning just over $749 million.
On Thursday, Harry Reid International Airport reported passenger counts were down by 4.4% in July.
The Strip typically outperforms the average, but occupancy was down to 79.5%, down 7.0% compared to July 2024. The average Strip room was $164.57, down from $170.38 last July, and RevPAR fell by 11.2%, $130.83 compared to $147.38.
Downtown prices are lower, but occupancy there was also down, 63.0% compared to 67.8% last July. Downtown rooms averaged $87.69 compared to $90.77 last July, and RevPAR was 10.2% lower, coming in at $55.24 compared to $61.54.
The report on Las Vegas visitation showed an estimated 3,089,300 visitors. A year ago, that number was 3,512,500. So far in 2025, Las Vegas is 8.0% behind last year’s pace for visitor volume, according to LVCVA.
The total number of hotel rooms available is down compared to last year. The Mirage is shuttered as Hard Rock International rebrands the resort, contributing to lower room counts.
But most of the decline in tourism has been attributed to economic uncertainty that has reduced travel nationwide and from international destinations including Canada.
