Vegas sees opportunities to attract international tourists

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 11:26 a.m.

International travel to Nevada from all points on the globe should improve next year and the state already has begun gearing up to serve a new market -- China.

Representatives of the state's Commission on Tourism and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority gave status reports on their respective markets Wednesday during the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Las Vegas.

Most of the news offered by representatives of the nine international markets was good for Nevada, with overseas economies rebounding, currency exchange rates favoring travelers from abroad and new flights giving tourists better access to the Silver State.

But there are some negatives.

Rafael Villanueva, the LVCVA's representative to Mexico, said Allegro Airlines, which operated four flights a week between Tijuana and Las Vegas, discontinued operations earlier this month when two of its jets were repossessed by leasing companies.

Villanueva said Allegro served a niche market in Mexico that isn't served by any other air carrier.

Representatives from China and South Korea also said government visa policies in those countries and in the United States would limit the number of tourists who would be able to visit Nevada from those countries.

Here's what representatives for the countries said about their respective markets: