Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau/Sam Morris
Clark County Department of Aviation Director Rosemary Vassiliadis speaks to members of the media after Virgin Atlantic Flight 155 from London Heathrow Airport arrived as the first international flight after the U.S. border reopened to vaccinated travelers Monday, November 8, 2021, at McCarran International Airport.
Published Friday, June 10, 2022 | 10:28 a.m.
Updated Friday, June 10, 2022 | 1:50 p.m.
The Biden administration is lifting the requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Airline and tourism groups have been pressing the administration for months to eliminate the testing requirement, saying it is discouraging people from booking international trips.
Many other countries have lifted their testing requirements for fully vaccinated and boosted travelers in a bid to increase tourism.
The announcement was well received in Las Vegas, where the pandemic brought nearly 90 days of closures on the resort corridor in 2020 and were international visitors are still gradually returning.
Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, thanked Nevada lawmakers for helping advocate for “this critical step forward.”
“Through our partnership with Harry Reid International Airport, we have already restored much of our international seat capacity,” Hill said. “The lifting of the testing requirement was an important last step to allow us to fully welcome back our sorely missed international visitors.”
MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle, who is chairman of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, said lifting the COVID testing requirement for international travelers is “a huge development for Las Vegas, the travel and tourism industry and the nation’s overall economy.”
“The United States is home to some of the most popular, iconic destinations in existence and is a beacon for visitors from around the world,” Hornbuckle said. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome those visitors back and showcase everything our company, industry and country have to offer.”
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who worked with the administration in advocating for the change, said she would "always fight for Nevada’s travel and tourism industry and the jobs it supports."
“I’m glad CDC suspended the burdensome coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support the strong recovery of our hospitality industry," she said.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said the announcement was "welcome news for Nevada's tourism economy."
"I appreciate Nevada's federal delegation — including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto — for continuing to push on this important issue," Sisolak said in a statement. "Nevada's economic recovery remains strong, and we've ensured our state has ample resources available including COVID-19 testing, vaccines and treatments for our residents and visitors should they need them."
In a statement, Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald said the announcement was “great news for Southern Nevada small businesses that depend on our robust tourism industry to drive the economy and support jobs.”
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., also applauded the change.
"The inbound testing requirement was the biggest barrier to a full recovery for the industry," Rosen, who serves as chairwoman for the Senate’s Commerce Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion, said in a statement. "Exempting fully vaccinated travelers from inbound testing will bring the U.S. in line with the rest of the world, and I’m glad the Biden administration has heeded our call to help speed the recovery of this key economic sector."
Through the first four months of this year, Harry Reid International Airport has served nearly 549,000 international passengers, compared to about 758,000 for all of last year, according to figures from the airport. In April alone, about 200,000 international travelers passed through the airport, signaling an increase of about 170,000 passengers from April 2021.
In a statement, Virginia Valentine, CEO of the Nevada Resort Association, called the move a “major victory” for the state's tourism-based economy.
"International visitors are a key component of Las Vegas’ economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in the community as they spend much more than domestic visitors during their stay," she said.
Last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, only 3% of all travelers to Las Vegas came from a foreign country. In 2018, before the onset of the pandemic, that figure was 20%.
More than 4.2 million passengers arrived and departed from the Las Vegas airport in April, marking a 46% increase from April 2021. More important, it was about 28,000 passengers shy of the pre-pandemic total in April 2019.
Clark County Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis said that with the elimination of mandatory COVID testing, “international air traffic into Las Vegas will jump instantly.”
“This is a huge step toward recovery for our community and our nation, and is an action that can be largely credited to the entire Nevada federal delegation and their appreciation for the integral role that aviation plays in our economy,” she said in a statement.
Vassiliadis noted that from 2011 through 2019, the number of international air passengers arriving in Las Vegas had increased each year.
“Then came COVID-19, and all of that disappeared almost overnight,” she said. “Thankfully, our international flights are rebounding, with 81% of our pre-pandemic international seat capacity restored and direct service from 18 international destinations, soon to be 19 when we welcome back Korean Air in July.”
The CDC will continue to recommend COVID-19 testing prior to air travel of any kind as a safety precaution. The new standard will start 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
