Las Vegas Keeps Dipping
Las Vegas is still Las Vegas—but the city is feeling an unmistakable squeeze, and it’s showing up first where it always shows up: foot traffic, worker hours, and the overall “value” experience that used to make a weekend in town feel effortless. The cost of the trip has jumped in every direction—rooms, food, drinks, ride shares, and the pile-on of resort fees and paid parking. That kind of friction doesn’t just annoy people; it changes behavior. Casual visitors hesitate, mid-market travelers shorten their stays, and some simply pick a cheaper destination.
The pain is spilling beyond casinos into the broader community. When tourism softens, it doesn’t hit one company—it hits the entire ecosystem: restaurants, retail, bars, shows, independent operators, and the service workers who rely on hours and tips. You can feel it in the quiet stretches, the slower weekdays, and the local businesses that are suddenly fighting for survival on streets that used to be reliably busy.
At the same time, the story isn’t “Vegas is dead.” It’s uneven. Downtown Vegas is holding up better than many expected because it still offers a more approachable experience—shorter walks, lower baseline prices, and a vibe that feels less like you’re being charged for breathing. On the Strip, the high end continues to do well. Properties like Wynn and Bellagio can still fill rooms and generate strong spend because luxury travelers aren’t as price sensitive and because those resorts are selling a premium experience, not a bargain. The middle of the market—the folks who used to come for value and excitement—is where the strain is most obvious.
And here’s what makes this situation even more frustrating: the powers that be keep making it worse with new costs and barriers—especially for international travelers, who have historically been a critical piece of Vegas demand. A new “visa integrity” fee for certain international visitors is exactly the kind of added hassle that makes the U.S. feel less welcoming. On top of that, higher fees aimed at international travelers visiting national parks adds yet another cost to what is often a combined trip—Las Vegas plus the Southwest parks. For visitors deciding between multiple global destinations, these changes matter. They don’t just raise the price; they add friction and resentment.
The frustrating part is that this is fixable—relatively easily. Vegas wins when it feels like a deal, not a shake-down. Simplify the fees. Reduce the nickel-and-dime add-ons that turn a fun weekend into a math problem. Improve the transparency around resort charges. Make the value proposition obvious again, especially for the mid-tier traveler that built modern Las Vegas. And if the country wants international tourists, stop stacking new costs on the very people you’re trying to attract.
Demand still exists. People still want a great weekend, a great show, a great meal, and that “only in Vegas” energy. The question is whether leadership clears the runway—or keeps adding speed bumps while wondering why fewer people are landing.
