Las Vegas Tourism and Economic Shifts in 2025

Las Vegas tourism faced challenges in the past year, but recent data indicates a resurgence. According to Priceline, Las Vegas led U.S. destinations in the highest year-over-year increase in searches for September, surpassing Orlando and New York. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported a 2.7% increase in July visitors compared to the previous year.

The rise in visitors marks a partial recovery after a 12% decline in July 2025. Hotel occupancy improved by 1.1 percentage points to 77.2%. However, convention attendance dropped by 5.6%, suggesting a tentative return of tourists.

“We’re still gradually losing leisure travelers,” noted LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill, “but convention attendance remains strong.”

Despite these signs of recovery, tourists express frustration over rising costs. In 2025, a $26 minibar water at Aria drew social media backlash after it was highlighted by “View from the Wing” and covered by The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Las Vegas visitor numbers and spending have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. In 2025, the city welcomed 38.5 million visitors, a 7.5% drop from 2024, and visitor spending decreased to $50.8 billion from $55.1 billion in 2024. Visitor volume remains about 10% below the 2019 figure of 42.5 million.

One significant factor is a decline in Canadian visitors, which historically made up Las Vegas’ largest international market, reduced by 30% since 2019. Airfare increases have also impacted travel, with tourists criticizing rising costs for hotel rooms, dining, and entertainment.

The demographic of Las Vegas visitors is shifting. In 2025, 75% of visitors reported earning $100,000 or more, with 44% earning $150,000 or more. This contrasts with a decline of over 10% in visitors aged 21 to 29 since 2022.

Whytney Rawls, a luxury travel expert, notes, “Gaming was once the dominant revenue driver. Today, a larger share comes from premium room rates, luxury dining, nightlife, entertainment, retail, and large-scale events.”

Las Vegas is adapting to the rise in luxury travel, catering to wealthier clientele. New restaurants, hospitality packages, and events like the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix showcase the city’s push toward premium experiences.

Live entertainment continues to be a major attraction. In 2025, The Sphere grossed $379 million from 1.7 million tickets sold, the highest for any arena globally, according to Pollstar.