Las Vegas tourism falls as city shifts toward affluent visitors, industry leaders say
July visitation drops 12% and Strip hotel occupancy declines as higher prices and fees coincide with growth in high-end travel
Las Vegas visitation fell in July as industry observers and local leaders said the market is tilting toward wealthier visitors amid rising prices and fees that are deterring budget-conscious travelers.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported 3,089,300 visitors in July, a 12% decline year-over-year, and said hotel occupancy on the Strip dropped to roughly 80.5%, down about 7 percentage points from 86.5% a year earlier. The numbers mark the latest sign that demand is softening at a time when many properties are emphasizing high-end amenities, residencies and premium hospitality experiences.
Public reaction on social platforms reflects frustration among some would-be visitors who describe Las Vegas as increasingly expensive and curated for affluent customers. "The Strip isn’t trying to be accessible anymore. It’s being curated. It’s becoming more exclusive, and that’s intentional," wrote one user on the r/LasVegas forum. Another commenter said the city appears to be targeting people "with serious disposable income. It’s become a playground for the affluent."
Television personality Rick Harrison, who runs the Pawn Stars business, told Fox News Digital that visitors frequently complain about what he described as mounting and opaque charges. "They go to a hotel, they go to check out. And there's $500 in stupid fees on their bills — resort fees and parking fees and this fee and that fee," Harrison said.
Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Casino and Resort, said the effects are uneven across market segments. Stevens told Fox News Digital that while he is seeing growth at the high end of the market, "the other end" — smaller spenders and budget travelers — is suffering. He and other executives noted that large concerts, residencies and conferences continue to bring premium business to the city even as overall visitation softens.
Private aviation operators said their business is strong, underscoring the contrast between affluent demand and declines among typical leisure travelers. Travis Turner, vice president of Client Experiences at Cirrus Aviation, said the company has seen booming demand from millionaires, celebrities, athletes and other high-net-worth visitors flying into Las Vegas. "We have the honor of accepting in Las Vegas to make our Las Vegas trip just move in groups," Turner said, adding that mid-week demand tied to conferences and performer travel has supported business on non-weekend days.
Economists and local officials have cited several factors that could be reshaping demand: higher everyday prices for dining and entertainment, increased resort and parking fees, the expansion of high-end retail and nightlife offerings, and an influx of private jet traffic and premium events. Those changes have allowed some operators to capture greater revenue per visitor while reducing reliance on volume from budget-conscious travelers.
City officials and industry groups have not signaled an immediate policy shift to lower fees or change marketing strategy, instead continuing to promote conventions, entertainment residencies and major events as core drivers of recovery. For now, the latest visitation and occupancy figures highlight a divergence in Las Vegas's tourism economy: robust spending and activity at the top end of the market alongside weakening attendance from average travelers who cite cost and added charges as deterrents.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority releases monthly visitation data to track trends, and further reports will show whether the city will regain broader leisure demand or continue along a higher-price, lower-volume path favored by parts of the hospitality industry.
