Tourism in Las Vegas is seeing a downturn, with September numbers showing a little over 3 million visitors—an 8.8% drop compared to the same time last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau (LVCA).
Rick Harrison, known for his role at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, expressed in an interview that many people are placing the blame on Las Vegas itself. He noted, “This is Las Vegas. This is the entertainment capital of the world.” Harrison emphasized, “I think we have more five-star restaurants than any other city in the United States. There’s something for every price point.”
He mentioned that a significant factor in the decline of tourism could be rising costs, stating, “A lot of people say Las Vegas tourism is down… because it’s too expensive.” The LVCA attributed the low visitor count to a lesser number of visitors during the week.
His shop is a well-known spot for tourists, thanks in part to the show “Pawn Stars,” and he mentioned welcoming around 1,200 customers daily. Interestingly, he estimated that about 40% to 50% of his visitors come from abroad, but noted the lack of Asian tourists currently visiting, possibly due to economic factors in their home countries rather than issues within the U.S.
In July, the visitor numbers were around 3,089,300, down from more than 3.5 million last year, with hotel occupancy on the Strip declining by 7% from 86.5% in the previous year. Harrison pointed out that businesses on the Strip need to be clear about pricing; there have been complaints about hidden fees. “It starts at $149 a night, but it quickly jumps to $300 or $400 after adding taxes and resort fees,” he said, highlighting how this frustrates customers.
“Just be upfront about the price, okay?” Harrison urged.
In the midst of this downturn, excitement looms as the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to return to the Strip from November 20 to 22. Last year’s event drew an impressive 306,000 attendees. Laurie Nelson Craft, a senior executive with the grand prix, shared that the attractions and live entertainment are generating considerable buzz among guests.
