Las Vegas, a city famed for its neon-lit nights and endless entertainment, is facing a summer unlike any in recent memory. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, just under 3.1 million tourists made their way to the city in June 2025—an 11 percent drop compared to the same month in 2024. The downturn is more pronounced among international travelers, who declined by 13 percent, while hotel occupancy has fallen roughly 15 percent.
Officials and business owners across the city are pointing to a combination of political and economic factors for the slide. Mayor Shelley Berkley did not mince words about the impact, particularly from Canada, traditionally Nevada’s largest international market. "The flow has diminished to a drip from a torrent," she said, describing the sudden disappearance of Canadian tourists. Visitors from Mexico, another historically strong market, are also staying away. Berkley explained, "We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that aren’t so keen on coming in right now. And that seems to be the prevailing attitude internationally."
One of the most vocal local leaders, Ted Pappageorge, head of the influential Culinary Workers Union, has dubbed the phenomenon the "Trump slump." He links the decline to policies and rhetoric from President Donald Trump’s administration, especially those targeting immigration. "If you tell the rest of the world they’re not welcome, then they won’t come," Pappageorge told The Independent. He also noted a drop in visits from Southern California, a region with a large Latino population, suggesting that fears about immigration enforcement are keeping potential visitors at bay.
Canadian airline data underscores the trend. Air Canada’s passenger numbers to Las Vegas dropped by 33 percent in June compared to a year earlier, WestJet’s fell by 31 percent, and low-cost carrier Flair saw a staggering 62 percent decrease. Canadian travel agents echo these findings, reporting a significant reduction in clients booking trips to the United States, and Las Vegas in particular. Wendy Hart, a travel agent from Windsor, Ontario, attributed the downturn to “politics, for sure.” She speculated, "It was a point of national pride that people were staying away from the US after President Donald Trump said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state." Hart also pointed to tariffs, saying, "The tariffs are a big thing too. They seem to be contributing to the rising cost of everything."
The decline in Canadian tourism is not limited to Las Vegas. According to Statistics Canada, only 1.7 million Canadian residents drove into the United States in July 2025—a 37 percent decrease from July 2024. From January to May, just over 7 million Canadians traveled south, representing a 17 percent dip year-over-year. The U.S. Travel Association warned that a 10 percent reduction in Canadian travel could mean 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending, and 14,000 job losses in the United States.
The chill in cross-border tourism is rooted in recent political tensions. Relations between the U.S. and Canada have soured since President Trump imposed harsh tariffs and made controversial statements about making Canada the 51st state. On August 22, 2025, Canada announced it would remove retaliatory tariffs on several U.S. goods in an attempt to reach a trade agreement, as reported by CBS News. In 2024, Canadian tourists were the top international visitors to the U.S., generating $20.5 billion in spending and supporting 140,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
The effects are being felt far from Nevada. In Newport, Vermont, businesses reported a 26 percent drop in foot traffic in July, with owners and Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase both noting the absence of Canadian tourists. "Normally at this time of year, it would be common for us to see bikes lined up and down our Main Street from Canada, and to hear French being spoken in our shops and restaurants. And this summer, almost none of that has happened," Ufford-Chase told WCAX. He attributed the decline to President Trump’s remarks and ongoing tariff disputes, which have created confusion and instability for cross-border business relationships.
The story is similar in other border communities. Paul Dame, owner of Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, New York, lamented to NPR, "It’s tough, because we’ve developed this relationship with the cross-border economy. And now here we are, the rug getting pulled out from underneath us." In response, Maine’s Governor Janet Mills visited Canada in June to discuss cross-border partnerships and the state installed signs reading “Bienvenue, Canadiens!” to welcome travelers.
Statistics Canada’s July 2025 report found that return trips by Canadian residents from the U.S. were down by 36.9 percent by automobile and 25.8 percent by air compared to the previous year. The decrease has been steady since the November 2024 U.S. presidential election, with news events such as the National Guard presence in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., making some Canadians uneasy about traveling south.
Even within Las Vegas, the impact is uneven. Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of Circa Resort and Casino, acknowledged a dip in international visits, especially from Canada and Japan. However, he noted that gaming numbers, particularly for sports betting, remain strong. "It's not as if the sky is falling," Stevens said. Wealthier visitors are still coming, and Circa has introduced cheaper package deals to attract more budget-conscious travelers. "There have been many stories written about how the ‘end is near’ in Vegas. But Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting."
Not all attractions are feeling the pinch. The Pinball Museum, just off the Strip, continues to draw crowds. Manager Jim Arnold explained, "We’ve decided that our plan is just to ignore inflation and pretend it doesn’t exist. So you still take a quarter out of your pocket and put it in a game, and you don’t pay a resort fee or a cancelation fee or any of that jazz." Still, Arnold observed that rising prices at high-end restaurants and resorts are "squeezing out the low end tourist."
Las Vegas’s reputation as a top travel destination has taken a hit. On AAA’s annual top ten Labor Day destinations list, the city slipped to the last spot for 2025, down from sixth place in 2024. Seattle and Orlando remain at the top, with New York City climbing to third.
Mayor Berkley believes the rising cost of food, hotel rooms, and attractions is also keeping visitors away. "People are feeling that they’re getting nickeled and dimed, and they’re not getting value for their dollar," she said, urging business owners to "see if we can’t make it more affordable" for tourists. "And that’s all we want. We want them to come and have good time, spend their money, go home. Then come back in six months."
For now, communities on both sides of the border are grappling with the economic fallout. As international tensions linger and travelers weigh their options, the ripple effects of this summer’s tourism slump may be felt long after the heat of August fades from the Strip.
