Las Vegas tourism is down. Some blame Trump's tariffs and immigration
crackdown
[August 19, 2025] By
TY ONEIL and CHRISTOPHER WEBER
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with
resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last
year, especially from abroad, and some officials are blaming the Trump
administration’s tariffs and immigration policies for the decline.
The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock
gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11% drop
compared to the same time in 2024. There were 13% fewer international
travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%, according to data from
the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Mayor Shelley Berkley said tourism from Canada — Nevada's largest
international market — has dried up from a torrent “to a drip.” Same
with Mexico.
“We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that
aren’t so keen on coming in right now. And that seems to be the
prevailing attitude internationally,” Berkley told reporters earlier
this month.
Ted Pappageorge, head of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, called it
the “Trump slump.” He said visits from Southern California, home to a
large Latino population, were also drying up because people are afraid
of the administration's immigration crackdown.
“If you if you tell the rest of the world they’re not welcome, then they
won’t come,” Pappageorge said.
Canadian airline data shows fewer passengers from north of the border
are arriving at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Air
Canada saw its passenger numbers fall by 33% in June compared to the
same time a year ago, while WestJet had a 31% drop. The low-cost carrier
Flair reported a whopping 62% decline.
Travel agents in Canada said there's been a significant downturn in
clients wanting to visit the U.S. overall, and Las Vegas in particular.
Wendy Hart, who books trips from Windsor, Ontario, said the reason was
“politics, for sure.” She speculated that it was a point of “national
pride” that people were staying away from the U.S. after President
Donald Trump said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state.
“The tariffs are a big thing too. They seem to be contributing to the
rising cost of everything,” Hart said.
At downtown's Circa Resort and Casino, international visits have dipped,
especially from Canada and Japan, according to owner and CEO Derek
Stevens. But the downturn comes after a post-COVID spike, Stevens said.
And while hotel room bookings are slack, gaming numbers, especially for
sports betting, are still strong, he said.
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People walk along the Las Vegas Strip, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Las
Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
 “It's not as if the sky is falling,”
he said. Wealthier visitors are still coming, he said, and Circa has
introduced cheaper package deals to lure those with less money to
spend.
“There have been many stories written about how the ‘end is near’ in
Vegas,” he said. “But Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a
destination worth visiting.”
On AAA's annual top ten list of top Labor Day destinations, Las
Vegas slipped this year to the last spot, from number six in 2024.
Seattle and Orlando, Florida — home to Disneyworld — hold steady in
the top two spots, with New York City moving up to third for 2025.
Reports of declining tourism were news to Alison Ferry, who arrived
from Donegal, Ireland, to find big crowds at casinos and the Vegas
Strip.
“It’s very busy. It has been busy everywhere that we’ve gone. And
really, really hot,” Ferry said. She added that she doesn't pay much
attention to U.S. politics.
Just off the strip, there's been no slowdown at the Pinball Museum,
which showcases games from the 1930s through today. Manager Jim
Arnold said the two-decade-old attraction is recession-proof because
it’s one of the few places to offer free parking and free admission.
“We’ve decided that our plan is just to ignore inflation and pretend
it doesn’t exist," Arnold said. “So you still take a quarter out of
your pocket and put it in a game, and you don’t pay a resort fee or
a cancelation fee or any of that jazz.”
But Arnold said he's not surprised that overall tourism might be
slowing because of skyrocketing prices at high-end restaurants and
resorts, which “squeezes out the low end tourist.”
The mayor said the rising cost of food, hotel rooms and attractions
also keeps visitors away.
“People are feeling that they’re getting nickeled and dimed, and
they’re not getting value for their dollar,” Berkley said. She
called on business owners to “see if we can’t make it more
affordable” for tourists.
“And that’s all we want. We want them to come and have good time,
spend their money, go home,” the mayor said. “Then come back in six
months.”
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Weber reported from Los Angeles.
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