Las Vegas visitor numbers have dropped by almost 8 percent, with an expert blaming 'ridiculous prices' for keeping people away. The Nevada gambling hub welcomed 3.39 million visitors in March, down from 3.68 million in February, a fall of 7.8 per cent, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).
International arrivals at Harry Reid International Airport were down 8.7 per cent in May compared with the same month in 2024. The drop appears to be part of the 'Trump slump', which has seen many international travellers shunning the US, following several high-profile deportation cases.
Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor website, told The Times that costs are a major factor. 'On the Strip, people get taken for a ride. Once they get here they're like, 'I'm tired of being treated like this. I'm tired of having to pay these ridiculous prices',' he said. 'There are fees all over the place — fees to park, resort fees on top of room rates. And people are getting fed up with it.'
The newspaper cited an example of one visitor who paid $40 for two coffees and two croissants. Las Vegas expert Michael Trager, who runs TravelZork, suggested dining off-strip to keep costs down, and recommended purchasing a Las Vegas Advisor Membership for discounts.
