Las Vegas tourism has seen a significant 7.5% decline in 2025, marking the sharpest drop outside the COVID pandemic, despite record passenger numbers at the Harry Reid International Airport.
In 2025, Las Vegas experienced a notable decline in tourism, with visitor numbers falling by 7.5% compared to 2024. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that only about 38.5 million people visited the city, a significant drop as the city continues to recover from past turmoil, including the impacts of the COVID pandemic. This decline is particularly concerning for the local economy, which heavily relies on tourism revenue.
Contrastingly, Harry Reid International Airport reported a record number of passengers, serving nearly 55 million travelers, marking its third-highest annual total. However, airport officials noted that despite these high numbers, the overall visitation to Las Vegas was down, indicating a disconnect between air travel success and the tourism sector's performance. Changes in the airport, especially in terms of improved passenger experience, have contributed to these record figures, according to the director of the Clark County Aviation Department.
Local casinos and tourism operators may now face significant challenges as they navigate this downturn. The decline indicates potential issues in attracting tourists back to the iconic city, which was once known for its soaring visitor counts. Stakeholders are likely to analyze how to reverse this trend and what further strategies can be deployed to rejuvenate Las Vegas's reputation as a premier tourist destination for the upcoming years.
