A major American hotspot is thought to be ‘dying’ as tourist numbers have significantly decreased since last year. Experts have had their say on the reason for this downfall.
A beloved hotspot in the US is experiencing a dramatic drop in visitor numbers. Las Vegas stands as an internationally renowned major resort city, celebrated for its casinos, shows, exquisite cuisine and buzzing nightlife.
The most populated city in Nevada has served as the backdrop for a number of Hollywood blockbusters, including Ocean’s Eleven, The Hangover and What Happens in Vegas. Yet, tourism to this iconic American location is plummeting, with specialists revealing the reasons behind the decline. This concern was spotlighted by Race Across The World champion, Alfie Watts, who travelled to Las Vegas to investigate what’s causing the drop in holidaymakers.
He documented his latest journey to the metropolis and posted it on TikTok. The BBC TV personality said: “Vegas tourism is falling off a cliff and I went to find out why.
“This city is a neon soaked fever dream of excess. You can have dinner in Paris, cocktails in Venice and you’ll lose all of your money in New York all before midnight.”
Las Vegas boasts hotels modelled on Paris, Venice and New York that have been crafted to resemble these destinations.
Watts continued: “It’s outrageous and it’s unique but it is still incredible but back in the day the whole point of Vegas was that you didn’t have to be rich to live like it for a weekend.”
During the first half of this year, Las Vegas saw a 7.3 per cent drop in visitor numbers compared to the same period last year, with June alone witnessing an 11 per cent decrease, as reported by Investopedia.
Watts attributes this decline to the rising costs of hotels and food and drink. He elaborated: “It used to be the ultimate weekend blow-out, the wild stag do’s, the girls’ trips, the spontaneous getaway where you came back sunburnt, broke but buzzing.
“Now, it’s priced itself into special occasion only territory and when the magic costs that much, people start asking if they can get it cheaper somewhere else.”
The TV star and renowned travel content creator argued that hotel rooms which “once cost next to nothing” are now comparable to the price of a city break in Paris.
He added: “Thirty years ago Vegas was the spot for outrageous fun but now you can get a similar weekend in Dubai, Ibiza and Cancun, and very often for half the price.”
However, he admitted that Las Vegas still holds its unique charm with its dazzling lights, vibrant energy, mind-blowing events, world-class cuisine, and the opportunity to dance at 4am in a hotel lobby “shaped like ancient Rome.”
Watts concluded: “Vegas is still a glitter cannon in the desert. It’s just that these days the glitter’s a little bit more unappealing because it’s a lot more expensive.”
Investopedia highlighted additional factors driving tourists away from Las Vegas, including fewer flights arriving in the US from Canada and other nations, partly due to escalating tensions from trade rows between the Trump administration and foreign governments.
Technology could also be playing a role, as sports betting apps and online gaming mean punters no longer need to travel to Las Vegas to gamble.
In his TikTok post’s caption, Watts argued that Las Vegas is “dying” and international arrivals are “tanking.”
The video has attracted a number of comments with viewers expressing their opinions.
One commented: “The millennials don’t gamble and if they do, it’s online and they also are smart with their money, they’re not going to go somewhere where they have to pay this, that and [the] other.”
Another remarked: “Ridiculous ‘resort fees’ and the outrageous tipping culture isn’t very attractive when everything else is getting more expensive.”
A third declared: “No one under 40 cares about Vegas.” A different viewer proposed: “Downtown Vegas is the place to be. Cheaper rooms, food and drink.”