Las Vegas tourism numbers remain down as Rick Harrison blames high prices, surprise fees

Tourism in Las Vegas continues to say no – with simply over 3 million guests in September, down 8.8% from the identical time final 12 months, in response to the Las Vegas Conference and Guests Authority (LVCA).

Rick Harrison of the Gold & Silver Pawn Store in Las Vegas informed Fox Information Digital in an interview that lots of people “have been beating up Vegas.”

However “it is Vegas,” he stated. “It is the leisure capital of the world. I feel now we have extra five-star eating places than any metropolis in america. There’s one thing for each value level.”

LAS VEGAS TOURIST OFFICIALS Blame Charges on FEWER VISITORS, Whereas Others Say the Magic Is Gone

Harrison added, “Lots of people say tourism in Las Vegas is declining… as a result of costs are too costly. And which may be a part of it.”

The low customer numbers in September are attributed to “decrease weekday volumes”, in response to the LVCA.

Harrison’s retailer is a well-known vacationer spot because of the “Pawn Stars” present and attracts about 1,200 guests a day, he stated.

The Gold & Silver Pawn Store in Las Vegas – made well-known by the present ‘Pawn Stars’ – attracts roughly 1,200 guests per day. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox Information Digital)

“I’d say most likely 40% to 50% of the individuals I get are worldwide. However an enormous a part of that’s we’re not getting any Asian vacationers proper now,” Harrison stated.

He attributes that to “financial causes of their nation, not essentially ours,” he stated.

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Final July, there have been 3,089,300 guests in comparison with greater than 3.5 million on the similar time final 12 months, whereas occupancy on the Strip fell 7% from 86.5% final 12 months.

Harrison says companies on the Strip must be extra sincere about their costs.

“Be sincere in regards to the costs, okay?” stated Rick Harrison, of “Pawn Stars” fame. (iStock; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Photographs)

“That is one thing [ticks] individuals away – while you go to take a look at, and it was $149 an evening. … You’ve got obtained the tax, the lodge tax, and you have got a resort price, and you have got the parking price and … and now it is $300 an evening or $400 an evening.

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“Be sincere in regards to the costs, okay?” stated Harrison.

‘I’ve by no means had a shock cost [for customers of] the pawn store as a result of if I did I would not be in enterprise for lengthy,” he stated.

The Method 1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas returns from November 20 to 22, 2025 alongside the Las Vegas Strip. (Michael Anthony for Fox Information Digital)

In the meantime, the Method 1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas returns to the Vegas Strip later this month, from November 20 to 22.

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Final 12 months the attendance for the race weekend was 306,000 individuals F1 destinations.

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Lori Nelson-Kraft, senior vp of company affairs for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, informed the Las Vegas Solar in November 2024, “The size, scope and complexity of our numerous fan zones and activations and the stay leisure that merges with the thrill of that actually simply creates a number of pleasure for our friends, and that is what we see, and that is what we hear.”