Decline in Las Vegas Tourism Continues in July Amid Seasonal Slowdown
July Visitor Decline Reflects Slower Summer for Las Vegas
New data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reveal that the city received about 3.1 million tourists in July, marking a 12% drop compared to the same month last year. This decrease continues a streak of lower visitor numbers year-over-year for Las Vegas.
Hotel Industry Faces Falling Occupancy and Revenue
Key hotel performance indicators also saw declines during July. The overall occupancy rate slipped to 76.1%, a decrease of 7.6 percentage points from the previous year. The average daily room rate (ADR) decreased by 3.4%, settling at $155, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) experienced a 12.1% drop, reaching $118.
Interestingly, the convention sector grew by 10.7% year-over-year, largely influenced by the timing of the World Market Center’s summer event which attracted 38,000 participants entirely counted in July this year, unlike last year when the event spanned July and August.
Weekend hotel occupancy declined from 93.2% to 88.8%, and midweek occupancy dipped from 79.9% to 70.9%. The iconic Las Vegas Strip registered an occupancy rate of 79.5%, down from 86.5%, with downtown occupancy falling from 67.8% to 63%. Average daily rates followed a similar trend, with the Strip seeing a drop from $170.38 to $164.57, and downtown rates decreasing slightly from $90.77 to $87.69.
Industry Leaders Stay Positive Despite Visitor Drops
Some experts point to higher costs as a reason for fewer tourists, with surveys showing that 90% of respondents believe Las Vegas has become too expensive. However, LVCVA CEO Steve Hill disputes this view, describing the current slowdown as a temporary phase rather than a lasting shift.
Hill emphasized that perceptions of Las Vegas being overpriced are not accurate. He highlighted that the city still offers considerable value and that local partners are actively promoting this message. According to him, the destination remains highly competitive, with stakeholders working together both to attract visitors and to compete for their business once they arrive.
The decline in Canadian visitors, who traditionally form the largest group of international tourists to Las Vegas, has also contributed to the overall drop in visitation. Despite this, Hill reinforced confidence in Las Vegas as a major tourist hub and stressed collaborative efforts among businesses to boost visitor numbers.
Looking ahead, many hotels, casinos, resorts, and restaurants anticipate a rebound in tourism during the last quarter of the year and into 2026. Several business events and trade shows are planned for the fall. Additionally, high-profile events such as the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, followed by a Monday Night Football game between the Raiders and the Chargers, are expected to create a lively weekend and attract crowds to the city.
