The number of people coming to Las Vegas plunged for the sixth straight month in July — but its casinos still turned a profit despite the dropoff.
Just 3.1 million tourists came to Sin City last month, a steep 12% drop from a year ago, according to new figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Canadian visits are down 18%, blamed partly on tariffs and political friction between the neighboring countries.
But traffic from Mexico, the United Kingdom and Australia is rising, fueled by more flights to the city.
Convention attendance has been up and down, falling 10% in June before bouncing back in July, LVCVA data shows.
The overall downturn is raising alarm across the Strip, where hotels and casinos rely on steady foot traffic to keep restaurants, shows and shops buzzing, according to CBS News.
A prolonged slump could ripple through Nevada’s economy, where tourism employs hundreds of thousands.
Yet even with fewer visitors, casinos are cashing in. Nevada gaming revenue hit $1.36 billion in July, up 4% from last year.
The casinos on the Strip generated $749 million, a 5.6% boost, while revenue at downtown dens rose 3.6%. The numbers suggest tourists who do come are spending more, even as crowds thin.
Travelers have blasted rising resort fees, $20 cocktails and $40 parking charges, fueling a growing perception that Las Vegas has lost its value.
Steve Hill, the LVCVA’s chief executive, insists the critics are wrong.
“We’re not happy with the downturn but the city’s taking steps to address that,” Hill told reporters on Friday. He argued that Las Vegas still delivers bang for the buck across a range of budgets.
“The idea that generally Las Vegas is not a value, that it is overpriced, I don’t think our customers are doing math when they are concerned about a specific issue,” Hill said.
“They’re expressing concern about that specific topic, that tends to then move into a narrative around Las Vegas is expensive or Las Vegas is not a value, but if you actually do the math on that, that’s not accurate.”
Prices in Las Vegas have been climbing faster than the national average, with consumer costs up 2.7% overall and 3.5% for food, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tourists are venting online about the pinch, with one Reddit user fuming: “It’s objectively expensive even for ‘Vegas’ … maximizing revenue at every turn.”
Others pointed to soaring travel and dining costs, with one lamenting a jump from “$99 round-trip flights out of Orlando to $800” and another stunned by an “$18 beer in a plastic cup” and a “$65 lunch for two” that “was only mediocre Dim Sum.”
Many hotels are touting discounts like free parking, late checkout and room upgrades to lure customers.
The tourism authority is also promoting budget-friendly activities citywide, from free attractions to low-cost entertainment, in hopes of reversing the slide.
Despite the slump, Hill is betting on a rebound this fall. He cited a stacked events calendar, from NFL games to big-name concerts, and stronger bookings through December.
“Don’t believe the narrative,” he told CBS News.
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