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-Editorial
Las Vegas experienced its steepest annual decline in visitors outside of the pandemic, as tourism indicators showed mixed results across the city’s hospitality and gaming sectors in 2025. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that visitor volume for December reached 3,091,500, down 9.2% from 3,405,700 in the same month a year earlier.
Despite the overall decline, convention attendance increased 9.6% to 306,000, signaling continued demand for business travel and trade events. Hotel room inventory remained largely unchanged at 150,300 rooms, but occupancy rates fell across the board. Total area occupancy dropped to 76.1% from 81.9%, with weekend rates declining to 84.6% and midweek rates to 73.2%. The Strip recorded a 6.2% drop in occupancy to 79.1%, while downtown occupancy fell more sharply, down 8.7% to 58.4%.
Average daily room rates also saw modest decreases, contributing to lower revenue per available room (RevPAR). The Las Vegas area RevPAR dropped 11.8% to $139.92, the Strip declined 11.5% to $155.87, and downtown RevPAR fell 15.2% to $59.44. Total room nights occupied across the area fell 7.3% to 3,547,800.
Transportation metrics reflected similar trends. McCarran International Airport (LAS) passenger traffic fell 10.3% to 4,370,832, and daily vehicle traffic on the I‑15 at the Nevada-California border decreased 4% to 45,665 vehicles.
Gaming revenue was uneven across the region. Gross casino gaming revenue on the Strip dropped 6.1% to $827.7 million, while downtown casinos reported a 4.7% increase to $86.1 million, and Boulder Strip casinos saw a 9% rise to $95.7 million. Clark County overall recorded $1.26 billion in gaming revenue, down 2.2% from the previous year.
Industry analysts and culinary union officials pointed to stricter immigration enforcement, heightened ICE raids, and international trade and tariff concerns as possible factors behind the “Trump slump,” which appeared to disproportionately affect international travelers, including those from Mexico. While business travel remained strong, leisure tourism, particularly among foreign visitors, contributed to the overall decline.
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, said in 2025 that concerns over immigration enforcement, trade disputes, and economic instability have contributed to a slowdown in Las Vegas tourism. Speaking to The Guardian, he noted that union members are “quite nervous” and described the decline in visitors as a “Trump slump.” Pappageorge cited ICE operations, tariffs, and general economic uncertainty as factors affecting international visitors, including Canadians and Mexican tourists, as well as Southern California travelers. He added that “chaotic immigration policies” have a direct impact on tourism and are a source of concern for union members.
The data indicate that Las Vegas’ hospitality and gaming sectors face a complex recovery landscape, balancing domestic convention growth with challenges in attracting international visitors.
