USA.- February 26, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com [1] Las Vegas witnessed a remarkable 39% increase in international visitation in 2023, driven by a substantial boost from Canadians and travelers from the UK, Germany, and Australia.
Preliminary estimates from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority indicate that the city attracted 4.74 million foreign visitors in 2023, constituting 11.6% of the total 40.8 million visitors.
In comparison, the 3.4 million foreign visitors in 2022 made up 8.7% of the 38.8 million international visitors, reflecting a significant rise from the 4% reported in 2021. The most recent high was 13.3% of the total in 2019.
Harry Reid International Airport served 57.6 million travelers overall in 2023, marking a 9.5% increase and surpassing the previous record set in 2022. Despite this growth, visitation from foreign countries remains one of the last areas of the Las Vegas tourism market to fully recover, particularly in terms of travel from outside North America, which saw a remarkable 45.8% year-over-year increase.
The 2023 visitation is 16.3% or 920,000 below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019, which saw 5.6 million international arrivals. In 2023, Canada regained its pre-COVID lead as the number-one foreign destination, welcoming 1.41 million Canadians—an impressive 60% increase over 2022. Mexico, which held the top spot from 2020 to 2022, dropped to the second position in 2023, with 1.08 million visitors, a 9.6% increase over the previous year.
The top international markets outside North America experienced notable increases, with the United Kingdom leading as Las Vegas’s third-largest foreign market. Australia, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil also saw significant growth. Notably, China recorded the most substantial gain, with a staggering 573% jump in foreign visitors to Las Vegas in 2023.
The article also highlights the efforts to boost international visitation, such as events like the Formula One race, National Finals Rodeo, and CES, which contributed to the positive momentum in the marketplace heading into 2024. It emphasizes that Las Vegas is setting records in airport passengers and other metrics, outpacing the recovery levels of other major cities. The piece concludes with industry experts expressing optimism for continued growth in international visitation in 2024, driven by increased airline capacity, connectivity, and a lineup of high-profile events.
Edited by: @MaiaDigital [2] www.zonadeazar.com [1]