Tourism in Las Vegas is down sharply this summer, with officials pointing to former President Donald Trump’s tariffs and immigration policies as key reasons behind the decline.
The city welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11 percent drop compared to the same month last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. International visitors fell by 13 percent, while hotel occupancy dropped by about 15 percent.
Mayor Shelley Berkley said travel from Canada and Mexico — two of Nevada’s largest markets — has slowed dramatically. “We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that aren’t so keen on coming in right now,” Berkley said.
Ted Pappageorge, head of the Culinary Workers Union, called it the “Trump slump,” arguing that immigration crackdowns have discouraged visitors, including those from Southern California’s Latino communities.
Canadian airline data also shows steep declines: Air Canada reported a 33 percent drop in Las Vegas-bound passengers in June, WestJet was down 31 percent, and Flair Airlines fell 62 percent. Travel agents in Canada linked the trend to politics, tariffs and rising costs.
Derek Stevens, CEO of downtown’s Circa Resort and Casino, acknowledged fewer visitors from Canada and Japan but said gaming revenues remain strong, particularly in sports betting. “It’s not as if the sky is falling,” Stevens said, noting that Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself with new deals and attractions.
On AAA’s list of top Labor Day destinations, Las Vegas slipped to tenth place this year, down from sixth in 2024.
