Goodbye Sin City? The unexpected and worrying moment that the tourism sector in Las Vegas is going through

Tourism is down by roughly 11% in Las Vegas this year, with visitor numbers, convention attendance and hotel occupancy all lower than usual, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Las Vegas’ financial health, with its large gambling market attractive to those with disposable income, is typically considered an indicator of the broader U.S. economy’s strength.

The lower numbers, released last week, come alongside President Trump’s escalating trade war that has frustrated travelers and a broader decline in international tourism to the U.S.

The destination experienced an 11% year over year decline in visitation, seeing roughly 400,000 fewer visitors in June of 2025, when compared to June of 2024.

More broadly, international spending in the U.S. tourism market is expected to fall by $12.5 billion this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, a UK-based organization that researches the global tourism industry.

The projection estimated the industry will make $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024.

The shortfall reflects a 22.5% drop compared to the previous peak.

“This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government,” Julia Simpson, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said in a statement.

“While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the ‘closed’ sign,” she added.