Tourism in Las Vegas has taken a notable hit in 2025, with official data and widespread social media chatter pointing to a sharp downturn in visitors, hotel revenue, and overall economic activity linked to the city’s tourism sector.
According to recent figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the number of tourists visiting Las Vegas in May 2025 dropped by 6.5% compared to the same month in 2024. The decline follows a 5.1% year-on-year dip reported in April, suggesting a consistent downward trend. Officials have attributed the slump to ongoing economic uncertainty and heightened consumer anxiety, factors that have reportedly worsened since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Business owners on the Strip and beyond are also feeling the pinch, with some reporting revenue losses as high as 40%. Conversations on Reddit echo this sentiment, with hundreds of users pointing out a visible decrease in tourist foot traffic across popular locations in the city.
The decline is being felt across multiple touchpoints in the tourism ecosystem. Gaming revenue across Nevada fell by 2.1% year-on-year in May, with casinos on the Strip experiencing an even steeper drop of 3.9%. Meanwhile, passenger traffic through Reid International Airport dropped 3.9%, reflecting a slowdown in domestic and international travel. One major contributing factor has been a marked reduction in tourists from Canada, historically a key market for Las Vegas.
Hotel performance metrics tell a similar story. The average hotel occupancy rate in May stood at 83.0%, down 3.1% compared to last year. On the Strip, occupancy rates were slightly higher at 85.3%, while downtown hotels lagged at 74.8%. Room nights occupied were down 5.5% overall, and hotel revenue per available room fell by 5.7%. Despite the dip in demand, average daily room rates have remained relatively stable, slipping only 2.2% year-over-year.
Guests paid an average of $198.20 per night, with Strip hotels charging $212.46 and downtown properties offering significantly lower rates at $109.39.Amid these challenges, there was one encouraging sign, convention business saw a significant bump. Convention attendance in May reached 511,200, a 10.7% increase over May 2024. This helped boost midweek hotel occupancy to 79.3%, offering a much-needed lift in an otherwise sluggish tourism landscape.
”It was fairly dead this last trip”
The Internet had some insights on this issue. A user said, “Just came from there. I visit Vegas 5 times a year….it was fairly dead this last trip. International travelers are scared of US policies is what I’ve been told.” “Newer generations are less degenerates than previous. They consume way less alcohol, party less, have less s3x and going less to stupid places like Vegas,” noted another.
“$400 per night hotel rooms, $30 per person mediocre junks meals, $10 watered down drinks, $200 flights to Vegas, $150 3min strip dances, $150 tickets to any show, It was cheaper for me and family to fly to Cancun or Europe, have a trip and comeback then to go to Vegas,” wrote a netizen. A user noted, “Foreigners are boycotting US completely after Trump attacked each country with tariffs. There are plenty of cheap and beautiful places outside US. Why to hurt your wallet. Also lately racial discrimination is increasing in America.”