Vacation Probation

Inflation Means No Vacation // Making way for some of the most unprecedented levels of tourism yet, Vegas is rising up again despite various hurdles. (Photo courtesy of Creative Commons).

The city of Las Vegas has been under consistent change in tourism over the years. In 2020, the number of tourists had gone down by over 20 million people due to factors such as COVID-19, and the rising costs of maintaining the town, and nationwide inflation. Recently, however, Las Vegas has made a remarkable comeback. As of 2024, over 41 million people have visited the city, making it the highest it's been since 2019.

Vegas is known for its glittering nightlife, glamorous hotels, and being the ultimate destination for vacationers.This reputation is what has led to its establishment as a city that is ultimately dependent on tourism. However, things such as limited water supply and finances have also contributed to a decline in tourism in the last couple of years. 

The year 2020 went down in history textbooks forever as a COVID-19 became a global phenomenon, affecting Vegas as well. The typical booming Strip was dead empty—with hotels, casinos, and shopping centers closed with concerns of the Coronavirus spreading. That same year marked the lowest number of tourists to date, only 19 million people visiting, reducing numbers by half.

Fortunately, as things gradually began opening up again and the virus has gone down in numbers, Vegas paved the way for recovery. However, though there may not be a worldwide pandemic anymore, a new threat has emerged, resulting in lower tourism than usual.

Economic strain within the United States has made people less inclined to spend money. 

Covid, among other factors, has changed the way society handles money. Shortly after the Strip opened again, the lack of visitors took a huge financial toll from small businesses all the way up to major casinos. To make up for the lack of cash? They began to increase the prices for tourists to an unprecedented amount. 

Hotels and casinos, especially in Las Vegas, are designed to lure tourists into spending money. Post pandemic, now that is at an inflated amount. Say a family of four arrives  at the main entrance—there’s a valet fee, and parking fee for the duration of their stay, and a tip for the bellman. They haven’t even walked through the main doors yet, and that’s many fees that add up. Perhaps more if it's a particularly luxurious stay. That’s also excluding factors such as travel, hotel room, booking fees, and so much more. 

Even for an affordable outing, locals struggle just as much as fellow tourists with the rising costs and upkeep of the city. Say a local has plans with friends at a hotel restaurant, there's either parking fee, a tip for the valet, and $30 for one expensive beverage, and their food isn’t even paid for yet. It makes sense as to why tourists or locals don’t want to spend that much money coming to the Strip when they can have a good time elsewhere.

Las Vegas, being based in a desert, struggles a lot with water conservation and accommodating the sheer amount of people with the balance of water conservation. Thus, it’s expensive for the hotels to keep up with plumbing and other bills. Combined with the drop in tourists and financial toll, that is why hotels pay and charge so much. 

Despite the hurdles, Las Vegas is a special city. There's not a single other city where someone can walk a mile to the Eiffel Tower, down to New York, New York. The expenses that tourists deal with, despite the high price, support Las Vegas as a city and a home. Due to a variety of reasons, from water shortage all the way to the lasting effects of COVID-19, Las Vegas has made quite the comeback even with all these issues, the city will continue to shape and evolve, adapting to the new challenges and changes.