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twitterLas Vegas sees 10 percent drop in visitors
Sun staff/file photo
Las Vegas received another dose of bad news Wednesday when the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced the number of visitors to the city and the number of conventions held in Las Vegas has declined compared to last year.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 | 1:55 p.m.
Sun archives
The number of visitors to Las Vegas dropped 10 percent in September compared to the same month last year.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said 2,936,499 people visited the city in September. That's down from 3,268,125 visitors in September 2007.
The number of visitors to the city is down 2.5 percent through the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year.
The LVCVA said the number of conventions held in Las Vegas in September dropped nearly 18 percent, with the economic impact of those conventions falling more than 8 percent compared to last year, from about $519 million to $476 million.
Hotel occupancy levels dropped 7 percent, from 91.3 percent in September 2007 to 84.3 percent in September 2008. The average rate of those rooms fell 21 percent, from $142.47 to $112.58, the LVCVA said.
Clark County gaming revenue was down nearly 3 percent compared to last September.
Air traffic is down 13 percent in the past year. The traffic count on Interstate 15 at the Nevada/California state line has fallen nearly 9 percent.
Outside of Las Vegas, visitor volume fell more than 13 percent in Laughlin this past September, and dropped nearly 39 percent in Mesquite.
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I booked Harrahs for 4 nights over thanksgiving in July for $526. It is now down to $316 for the 4 nights shows how desperate they are getting.
but didn't all the know-it-all CEO blowhards say "vegas is recession proof" just 3 or 4 months ago?
you're going to start seeing empty retail storefronts in the malls on the strip really soon.
something has to give.
Lets raise the hotel room tax to improve our vistor numbers.
Raising taxes is the cure for all problems.
Oh, look who's back! Good ol' "stevem" and his sarcastic negativity! How long have you been hating Las Vegas, Stevie? Are you one of the old school Vegas haters, or one of the recent carpetbaggers who came here chasing gold and got stuck with nothing? Either way, your comments are tiring.
actually i LOVE vegas.
i've been here 7 years and i still every now and then just "walk the strip" and take photos.
the simple reality is that vegas is in the situation it is in because 3 - 5 years ago the powers that be didn't diversify the economy here.
it's not being negative, it's reality, and when oscar goodman cares more about getting a silly sports stadium instead of tech / research / medical jobs here, this town is going to go into the dumper.
the LOCAL economy exists because of one thing and that is tourism. and they have royally screwed it up.
stevem is absolutely right and I've been saying this for the close to nine years I've been here.
You simply cannot sustain an economy on one industry, ESPECIALLY in an economic climate such as we are experiencing at this time.
I doubt even the severity of this current downturn will open Oscar's eyes, however; he's a pretty stubborn character ("my way or the highway"). Something needs to be done now to improve the situation.
DIVERSIFY this economy!
I agree with the diversification point completely, but, I'm not willing to blame Oscar for all that. To his credit, there have been some efforts to bring new industry to Las Vegas. The World Mart and the furniture industry for example. But yes, much more is needed.
However, I think all this is coming to light because of the economy. If the economy were still decent, my guess is that not too many people would be complaining.
I'm also not too sure that the tourism industry has been screwed up. Maybe. But if you travel around to other places major cities (LA, SF, Chicago, NYNY) you find that Vegas falls right in line with room costs, etc...
Yes, diversify. Get some tech/medical/green industries here. Soon please.
But that's just it, johnevegas. One of the draws of Las Vegas used to be the reasonable prices on room & food. OK, not that the food was all that much to rave about; point there.
Tourists knew they were going to lose money gambling; it's the nature of the beast. But because room & food were reasonably priced, it didn't seem as if they were losing their shirts. The vacations were priced accordingly and despite the losses, a good time was had by all. (Or most. Whatever. LOL.)
But now that room & food prices ARE in fact on a par with NY or CHI or SF, why would ANYONE want to come here & gamble knowing they're going to lose? For many of them, they can stay closer to home if they want to gamble. And they can make it a weekend in their own neck of the proverbial woods.
So yes, the tourism industry has been royally screwed up because the Strip properties got greedy. What a surprise; greed strikes again.
I agree with you about Oscar, but he is kind of like a stubborn two-year-old when it comes to that dang arena. Major league, professional sports teams will NOT come here due to the betting.
On a personal level, I prefer the minor league teams anyway. And I don't think I'm alone.
I agree with the too high room rates and too expensive food venues - and add to that the declining level of customer service along with the inclining impression that anything anyone does out here is deserving of a tip - it never ends. The vacationer has less and less money to actually gamble away (and thus provide themselves with a sense of being entertained) because it's more than half gone before they even get started. Back to basics - that's what Vegas needs to do - get back to basics.
Steve M, since you take photos of the 'strip' could you donate a more recent one to the Sun, The Boardwalk, and Siegfried and Roy? Wasn't that 7 years ago??
hahaha!
acrosby, i noticed that as well! haha!
how OLD is that photo?
i guess they didn't get time to take a new one because all their photographers have been at aliante station for the last 4 weeks.
"we need MORE photos of the sign, guys. really, REALLY get in tight on the word 'aliante' on that sign."
People with money to spend in Vegas will get less and less! I came to Vegas 8 times within this past year. Nevada Helped to vote in Obama, so my investment and incomes will be less this year coming. I will cut my visits in 1/2 if not more. I will also be spending less at spas, clothing, meals, tips, limos ect...... Sorry but Obama will take more of my money
acrosby85254 -- this is Rob from the Sun. Sorry about that incredibly old photo. You are absolutely right ... it's time to get some new photos of the Strip for our files. We're on it.
Hey somebody forgot the discount outlets. I'm sure you will see some of them closing and if a depression which is looming on the horizon hits they will all close among other things. After all wasn't shopping at the discount malls the number one thing people did when coming to Vegas. I also see a lot of casinos offering $15.00/nite rates but who has the airfare to fly here??????
I agree with Patricia LV and JohneVegas... tourism chiefs have completely screwed up. I think we alienated our core visitors by thrusting this "what happens here stays here" campaign right royally down their conservative throats. My cousin's wife won't let him come visit 'cos she things he's going to run off with a blond at every corner and get up to no good with me.... We have created a town fit only for party going numbskuls who have all just lost their overpaid jobs around the country. Mr and Mrs America have been frightened off. All our messages have targeted the younger generation who are now broke! Our terrible recession won't just stay here unfortunately! Is it Oscar's fault - well he's in charge!