Las Vegas has recorded its worst tourism figures in months, with a sharp decline in visitors during November despite the city hosting a major international sporting event to boost numbers.
Airport Data Reveals Deepening Slump
The number of passengers passing through Harry Reid International Airport fell by nearly ten percent in November compared to the same month last year. Official statistics show the airport served approximately 3.96 million domestic travellers, a significant drop from around 4.34 million in November 2024.
This decline marks the tenth consecutive month of falling passenger totals, with the last recorded increase being a minor 0.4% bump in January. The downward trend is accelerating, with the November drop being steeper than the 7.8% decline seen in October and the roughly 6% falls recorded in both August and September.
International Visitors Lead the Exodus
The situation is even more severe for international tourism. While international traveller numbers have always been lower, they are now falling at a much faster rate. In November, international arrivals and departures at Harry Reid Airport collapsed by a dramatic 21.2 percent.
This follows declines of 13.5% in September and 14.2% in October year-on-year. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has explicitly noted concerns over declining international visitation. Its president, Steve Hill, pointed to international relations decisions impacting tourism, highlighting that Canadian visitors – the largest international market – are arriving in far fewer numbers.
Grand Prix Success Fails to Offset Broader Decline
The steep November slump occurred in spite of the city hosting the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a sold-out three-day event celebrating its 75th anniversary. All 300,000 tickets were purchased, and CEO Emily Prazer hailed the race as "Formula One at its very best."
However, the event's success did not translate into broader tourism recovery. Industry observers and visitors alike cite soaring prices as a key deterrent. Reports of tourists being charged $26 for a hotel minibar water bottle and $74 for two drinks at the Las Vegas Sphere have fuelled complaints of being overcharged.
This price inflation has altered the visitor demographic. A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority report indicates that 64% of tourists last year had an income of at least $100,000, up sharply from 48% in 2023 and just 28% in 2019.
Local businessman and television personality Rick Harrison noted the broad spectrum of the decline, telling Fox News, "A big part of it is, we're not getting the Asian tourists," underscoring that the issue extends beyond the loss of Canadian visitors.
