Las Vegas Tourism Dip – Politics or Price Gouging to Blame?
Some attribute the decline in Las Vegas summer tourism to political factors, with visitor numbers dropping in June compared to the previous year. However, others argue that rising hospitality costs are the primary drivers of this trend. Once celebrated as an affordable destination, Las Vegas has seen prices for everything from room rates to drinks nearly double over the past decade, according to many observers. Let’s take a look.
Hotels:
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, average nightly room rates on the Strip have soared to $210 in early 2025, a 70% jump from $124 in 2015.
Resort fees, those often-criticized charges for amenities like Wi-Fi and pool access, now average $40 per night—up 11% from recent years—with some properties hitting as high as $55.
Parking, once free, now adds $40–$50 daily at many resorts, further inflating costs.
A room advertised at $100 can quickly double to $200 once taxes, resort fees, and parking charges are tacked on, leaving budget travelers frustrated. On X, a user vented, “They just lost their way. Too expensive. Insane charges on everything.”
Food and Entertainment:
Tourism staples in Las Vegas, such as dining and entertainment, have significantly increased in cost. Iconic all-you-can-eat buffets, once priced around $20, now often exceed $75 per person. A sit-down meal at mid-tier Strip restaurants now averages about $65 per person.
Drinks have also surged in price, with a single beer costing between $15 and $18 and cocktails averaging around $25 at many Strip venues.
Concerts have also skyrocketed in price, often costing up to four times more than similar events in other cities.
Flights:
Flight prices to Las Vegas have climbed over the past decade as well. From Los Angeles, the top visitor source city, round-trip fares rose from $90 in 2018 to $100–$170 in 2025, a 10–20% increase. San Francisco saw fares increase from $120 in 2018 to $140–$220 in 2025, up 15–25%. Toronto, the top international source, had fares surge from $380 in 2018 to $739 in 2025, with seasonal lows of $532 and highs of $815, a 95% jump.
In-state non-stop Southwest Airlines flights from Reno to Las Vegas have seen significant price increases over the past decade, with average round-trip fares reaching around $500 in 2025, compared to $80–$150 in 2015.
It's no surprise that as prices rise, tourism falls.
Social media is filled with widespread complaints about the lack of affordability in Las Vegas. This price surge isn't new or solely post-pandemic; tourists faced rising costs well before COVID-19 hit in 2020. Hotel room rates on the Strip grew 20% from $119 in 2013 to $143 in 2019. Dining expenses increased, with daily food costs up 14% over five years. Visitors in 2019 noted pricier drinks, like beers and cocktails. Entertainment, including show tickets, also became costlier as casinos leaned into non-gaming revenue, which hit 65% of Strip income by 2019.
Ultimately, the data indicates that rising costs are pricing out tourists. By shifting away from its budget-friendly roots, Las Vegas is eroding the accessible charm that historically defined it.
