Laughlin sees 3 percent drop in visitors for April

Wednesday, June 19, 2002 | 11:49 a.m.

Visitor volume to Laughlin fell by 3 percent in April compared to a year ago, capping off four straight months of declines, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

In April 385,797 people visited the Southern Nevada outpost, which was hard hit by the economic and tourism slowdown after Sept. 11.

Still, average daily traffic on State Route 163 jumped 23 percent. Tighter security around Hoover Dam after Sept. 11 in part prompted the increase, as motorists sought alternate routes through Laughlin, the authority said.

Other categories also suffered declines for the month. Hotel occupancy rates fell by 2 percent, to 90 percent, and gross gaming revenues dropped by 1 percent, to $48.2 million. Convention attendance also declined nearly 8 percent, to 17,925. And airline passengers to Laughlin/Bullhead City fell by 15 percent, to 16,376.

Year-to-date figures were more mixed. Visitor volume dropped 4 percent through April, while convention attendance increased by 38 percent. Airline passenger volume fell 19 percent. Occupancy rates fell 2 percent and gross gaming revenues declined by less than 1 percent.