Las Vegas Struggles to Win Back Tourists: Can Deals, Residencies, and Events Save the Strip?

For decades, Las Vegas has been the ultimate playground for travelers — a city where neon lights never dim, world-class entertainment runs nightly, and conventions bring global crowds under one roof. But lately, Sin City has been facing a sobering reality: tourism is slipping, and many would-be visitors are abandoning their plans to visit altogether.

Why Tourists Are Rethinking Las Vegas

The challenges go beyond a temporary dip. Visitors are increasingly frustrated by the perception of poor value. Rising resort fees, expensive cocktails, mandatory parking charges, and surging ticket prices for shows and attractions have left travelers feeling like the city is gouging rather than welcoming them.

For families and casual tourists, what was once a budget-friendly getaway now requires luxury-level spending just to enjoy the basics. Even for die-hard fans of the Strip, the sticker shock has reached a tipping point. With fewer people making the trip, the numbers reflect the trend: hotel occupancy rates and visitor counts have softened, even while gaming revenue remains strong from those who do come and spend more.

In other words, fewer tourists are arriving, but the ones who do often feel squeezed for every dollar. That’s a dangerous reputation for a city that depends almost entirely on tourism.

Las Vegas Strikes Back with Marketing

To combat this downturn, Las Vegas has launched a high-profile campaign to remind travelers why it’s still the entertainment capital of the world. A fresh wave of advertising promotes the city as an accessible, exciting escape, trying to reshape the narrative from “too expensive” to “worth every penny.”

The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority is also leaning heavily on its other breadwinner: conventions and trade shows. By enticing large events back to town with incentives, Vegas hopes to boost midweek bookings and fill hotels that are otherwise struggling when leisure travelers cut back.

Residencies, Events, and Attractions Taking Center Stage

Entertainment remains the Strip’s crown jewel, and the calendar is packed. This fall, Las Vegas is leaning on superstar residencies and big-ticket events to draw tourists back:

• The Eagles at the Sphere – The band is closing out its legendary career with final shows inside the breathtaking Sphere, offering everything from general admission to VIP hotel packages.

• Kelly Clarkson, Janet Jackson, and Ashlee Simpson – Star-powered residencies continue to anchor Caesars Palace, Resorts World, and The Venetian.

• Mega Acts & Variety – Shania Twain, Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, Lenny Kravitz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pitbull, Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, and the Backstreet Boys all light up the Strip through the end of 2025.

• Special Events – From the WWE Worlds Collide showdown and championship boxing to Noche UFC, Vegas doubles down on live sports.

• Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix – A controversial but headline-grabbing event, now offering cheaper single-day tickets to appeal to a broader crowd.

• BravoCon 2025 – Reality TV superfans will descend on Caesars Forum for panels, meet-and-greets, and live tapings.

• Conventions – Industry staples like RE+ 2025 and Pack Expo are expected to bring in tens of thousands of attendees.

By highlighting both mega-entertainment and business tourism, Vegas is hoping to spread out appeal and fill seats that might otherwise stay empty.

Hotel & Package Deals: A Push for Value

The Strip’s resorts are starting to get the message that prices matter. To address the growing perception that Las Vegas isn’t affordable, hotels are rolling out some of the most generous deals in years:

• Caesars Entertainment is offering two-night stays bundled with hundreds in dining credits.

• Wynn & Encore are discounting rooms by nearly a third, with added resort credit.

• The Venetian and Palazzo are slashing suite rates by a third and adding perks through club lounge access.

• Resorts World Las Vegas is dangling member discounts, free parking, and waived resort fees — a huge shift in tone.

• Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming properties are lowering rates to appeal to locals, value-seekers, and repeat travelers who might otherwise stay away.

• Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is advertising 30% off stays, no parking fees, and added perks.

Show-and-hotel bundles are also becoming more common, allowing visitors to save when booking both together. For travelers looking for value, midweek stays remain the sweet spot for discounted tickets and better rates.

The High Stakes for Sin City

The city knows its reputation is on the line. If too many people conclude that Las Vegas is no longer worth it, they’ll take their vacations — and their wallets — elsewhere. Orlando, Nashville, and international destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean are all luring away tourists who once might have defaulted to a Vegas trip.

At the same time, Las Vegas has a unique ability to reinvent itself. With the Sphere dazzling audiences, residencies stacked with iconic names, and hotels finally beginning to address value concerns, the city is signaling that it’s listening.

Should You Visit Now?

If you’ve been on the fence about planning a Vegas getaway, this fall may actually be one of the smartest times to go. Hotels are aggressively courting travelers with promotions, superstar residencies are in full swing, and major conventions bring energy back to the Strip.

The biggest question is whether Las Vegas can sustain this momentum. Can the city shift its reputation from overpriced to irresistible, or will travelers continue to abandon their Vegas dreams for cheaper, more straightforward alternatives?

For now, one thing is certain: the neon capital is fighting hard to win you back. And if you time it right, you just might find that the deals, the shows, and the spectacle are worth the trip after all.