Las Vegas has always been a top destination for domestic and international tourists.
But have you ever wondered how many people visit Vegas? Or if the city is still as popular as it used to be?
In this report, you’ll discover the latest stats and how the data compares to before the pandemic.
I’ve also gathered as much 2024 information as possible to give you a better picture of tourism trends. Rest assured, you’ll find all the most up-to-date research here.
Let’s get into the numbers!
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Visitors To Las Vegas Per Year
In 2023, 40,829,900 people visited Las Vegas, representing a 5.15% rise over 2022.
2024 is on track to surpass 2023 numbers, with 830,600 more travelers from January to August compared to the same period last year.
Here are the visitor growth statistics over the past 9 years:
- 2023: 40,829,900 (+5.15%)
- 2022: 38,829,300 (+20.47%)
- 2021: 32,230,600 (69.36%)
- 2020: 19,031,003 (-55.25%)
- 2019: 42,524,000 (0.97%)
- 2018: 42,116,900 (-0.23%)
- 2017: 42,214,100 (-1.68%)
- 2016: 42,936,100 (1.47%)
- 2015: 42,312,216 (2.88%)
- 2014: 41,126,512
Source: LVCVA
Is Tourism Up Or Down?
Tourism to Las Vegas has been increasing year-over-year since the end of the pandemic, but it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
For instance, in 2019, before COVID-19 hit, visitor volume was 42,524,000. Comparing that to 2023’s data, we’re still about 1.69 million tourists short.
My analysis below indicates that the deficit is primarily due to the slower recovery of convention attendance and international tourism.
However, these sectors are strengthening, providing optimism for a complete recovery sooner rather than later.
Convention Attendance
In 2023, Las Vegas hosted 5,986,700 convention attendees, up 19.94% from 2022.
However, this number is still 662,400 travelers short of the pre-pandemic high of 6,649,100 in 2019.
If we look at 2024, convention attendance from January to August is down by 63,100 as compared to the same period in 2023.
Some of that decrease, though, is due to some shows changing dates.
There was also one convention held in Las Vegas last year (AWFS Fair with 16,000 attendees) that did not come this July but is scheduled to return in 2025.
Convention Attendance: 9 Year Growth Statistics
- 2023: 5,986,700 (+19.94%)
- 2022: 4,991,500 (+126.23%)
- 2021: 2,206,400 (+27.74%)
- 2020: 1,727,200 (-74.02%)
- 2019: 6,649,100 (+2.27%)
- 2018: 6,501,800 (-2.17%)
- 2017: 6,646,200 (+5.32%)
- 2016: 6,310,600 (+7.12%)
- 2015: 5,891,151 (+13.41%)
- 2014: 5,194,580
Source: LVCVA
International vs Domestic
According to Tourism Economics data models, the estimated number of international tourists in 2023 was 4,740,000, accounting for 12% of the total.
Based on this, domestic visitation was 36,089,900, representing 88% of the total number of visitors.
It’s worth noting that since the end of COVID-19, domestic tourism has recovered faster than international tourism.
In 2021, Las Vegas experienced a significant 72.88% increase in domestic travel, while international travel only increased by 14.04%.
However, international tourism has surged in the past two years, with a 162.3% increase in 2022 and a 39% rise in 2023.
Sources: LVCVA, Tourism Economics
Which Countries Visit The Most?
In 2023, more than half (53%) of all international travel to Las Vegas came from Canada and Mexico.
Canadian visitors jumped from 885,610 to 1,419,050, a 60.2% increase over 2022. In comparison, the number of tourists from Mexico grew from 989,480 to 1,084,840, a 9.6% rise.
2023 was also a significant time for overseas travelers, with an increase of 45.8% over 2022.
Top 10 countries by Visitor Counts & YoY % Change (2023)
- Canada: 1,419,050 (+60.2%)
- Mexico: 1,084,840 (+9.6%)
- United Kingdom: 551,550 (+14.3%)
- Australia: 264,900 (+74.2%)
- Germany: 182,450 (+45.9%)
- South Korea: 157,760 (+58.0%)
- Brazil: 123,370 (+26.8%)
- Japan: 108,020 (+223.4%)
- France: 80,770 (+46.2%)
- China: 71,640 (+573.3%)
Despite the recovery, international travelers are still below pre-pandemic levels, with 920,000 fewer tourists than in 2019.
This graph visually puts it into perspective:
Source: LVCVA
Domestic Travel
The number of US visitors to Las Vegas increased to 36,089,900 in 2023, a 1.89% rise from 2022.
Despite the positive growth, domestic tourism still lags by 774,100 tourists compared to 2019 and falls short of the 2016 all-time high by 1.15 million people.
The chart below illustrates the relatively quick recovery of US-based tourism since the pandemic, which has outpaced international travel.
Which US Cities Visit Vegas The Most?
Below are the most recent statistics for the top 10 air feeder markets to Las Vegas by city.
It’s important to note that Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, and Houston include multiple airports.
For instance, San Francisco includes Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Given their proximity to Las Vegas and large populations, it’s no surprise that Los Angeles and San Francisco are the top two origin markets.
Top 10 US Metro Areas to Las Vegas by Air: Arriving Passengers
- Los Angeles Area: 1,820,158
- San Francisco Area: 1,371,793
- New York Area: 862,072
- Chicago Area: 797,650
- Dallas Area: 746,560
- Seattle Area: 737,880
- Denver: 635,320
- Houston Area: 563,865
- San Diego: 510,868
- Atlanta: 507,317
While the most recent air feeder data available is from 2023, the rankings for 2024 are likely unchanged due to these markets’ supporting populations.
Additionally, as domestic tourism volume is increasing in 2024, the passenger numbers for most metro areas are likely higher than what is shown here.
Source: LVCVA
What State Travels To Vegas The Most?
California is the state that travels to Las Vegas the most, with 4.44 million arriving passengers and almost 530,460 cars crossing the I-15 NV/CA border in 2023.
The chart below shows the top 10 states with the highest number of visitors, considering all airports within each state.
Florida is notable for its third-place finish, as none of its airports made the top 10 list in the air feeder markets by city.
Harry Reid Airport Passenger Statistics
Harry Reid International Airport experienced a record-breaking year for air travel in 2023, with 57,646,945 arriving and departing passengers.
This surpassed the previous record of 52,667,741 in 2022, representing a 9.45% increase.
From January through August of 2024, the airport has already seen a 2.76% increase, equivalent to 1,040,496 additional passengers, compared to the same period in 2023.
Number of Passengers by Year & YoY % Change
- 2023: 57,646,860 (+9.45%)
- 2022: 52,667,741 (+32.63%)
- 2021: 39,710,493 (+78.86%)
- 2020: 22,201,479 (-56.92%)
- 2019: 51,537,638 (+3.81%)
- 2018: 49,646,118 (+2.51%)
- 2017: 48,430,118 (+2.10%)
- 2016: 47,435,027 (+4.67%)
- 2015: 45,318,788 (+5.67%)
- 2014: 42,885,350
Source: LVCVA
Las Vegas Tourism FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Las Vegas tourism numbers.
How Many Tourists Does Vegas Have Every Day?
Las Vegas receives an average of 111,863 visitors per day. This figure is calculated by dividing the total annual number of visitors in 2023 (40,829,900) by 365 days.
So far, in 2024, the average daily volume has increased to 115,239, representing a 2.6% rise over the same period last year.
This calculation is based on the total number of visitors during the first eight months of 2024 divided by 243 days.
It’s important to note that visitor traffic fluctuates depending on the season, with fewer people in town during the winter.
What’s The Average Number Of People Per Month?
In 2023, the average number of visitors per month in Las Vegas was 3,402,492, calculated by dividing the total number of visitors (40,829,900) by 12.
In comparing the first eight months of 2024 to the same timeframe last year, the average monthly visitor volume has increased to 3,500,375 from 3,396,550.
Which Month Is The Busiest?
I looked at the monthly visitor volume over the last ten years and found that historically, the busiest months in Las Vegas are October and July (tied for first), followed by March and then May.
These same months were also the busiest in 2023, albeit with a slight reshuffling. Last year, March took the lead, followed by October, July, and May.
Visitor Numbers By Month (2023):
- January: 3,275,300
- February: 3,081,800
- March: 3,655,800 (1st)
- April: 3,385,500
- May: 3,498,000 (4th)
- June: 3,428,500
- July: 3,527,800 (3rd)
- August: 3,319,700
- September: 3,336,900
- October: 3,630,300 (2nd)
- November: 3,292,800
- December: 3,397,500
Source: LVCVA
What Is The Slowest Month In Las Vegas?
February is consistently the slowest month in Las Vegas, with January coming in a close second, followed by December.
In 2023, February had 18.6% fewer people than March, which again had the highest number of travelers for the year.
To put this percentage into perspective, February was 574,000 tourists short of the busiest month.
Final Thoughts
Although Las Vegas is still below its pre-pandemic tourism numbers, the area is close to fully recovering.
International volume has increased significantly over the past two years, and more business conventions are coming to town.
The city is also constantly in a state of reinvention, adding new attractions, entertainment venues, and sporting events that bring back tourists and attract new ones.
The incredible 2023 record-breaking year of air travel at Harry Reid International Airport is a testament to Las Vegas’ resiliency. I anticipate even more records being broken soon!
