LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Las Vegas tourism industry is grappling with a decline in Canadian visitors, a trend attributed to tensions over tariffs between the U.S. and Canada.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, international tourists made up 20% of Las Vegas’s visitors, with a significant portion coming from Canada.
However, recent data from Harry Reid International Airport indicates that the average number of inbound seats on flights from Canada has decreased by more than 18% compared to last year.
Julia Chasson, a Canadian tourist who visited Las Vegas in March, said, “I love coming to the states… obviously there’s a lot of fun stuff to do that we don’t get to do in Canada.”
Despite the tariff dispute, Chasson and her companion decided not to cancel their trip to see the Grateful Dead.
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Steve Hill, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), acknowledged the challenges posed by “national overtones” but emphasized the city’s commitment to its Canadian visitors. “That’s a long-term relationship, and we’re going to figure that out,” Hill said.
He plans to embark on a trade mission to Canada and sponsor an event in Toronto to strengthen ties.
The LVCVA is also intensifying its efforts with online travel agents, generating about a million room nights through the summer.
Hill highlighted Las Vegas’s value and entertainment offerings, saying, “We’ve got a great entertainment lineup through the summer and into the fall.”
Despite a 7% year-to-year slump in visitor numbers, Hill remains optimistic. “We’ve had crises, and we have recovered from crises, and this is just not that. It is a downturn,” he said.
Hill is confident that upcoming conventions, sporting events, and entertainment will attract more visitors, potentially bringing back Canadian tourists as the weather cools in the coming months.