LOCALIZE IT: Las Vegas tourism dip mirrors national trend. Some blame tariffs, immigration crackdown

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad. Some officials are blaming the Trump administration’s tariffs and immigration policies for the decline. The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11% drop compared to the same month in 2024. According to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there were 13% fewer international travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%.

The Vegas dip mirrors a national trend. The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics, which in December 2024 anticipated the U.S. would have nearly 9% more international arrivals this year, revised its annual outlook to predict a 9.4% drop. Some of the steepest declines could be from Canada, the company said. Canada was the largest source of visitors to the U.S. in 2024, with more than 20.2 million, according to U.S. government data.

Canadian airline data shows fewer passengers from north of the border are arriving at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Air Canada saw its passenger numbers fall by 33% in June compared to a year earlier, while WestJet had a 31% drop. The low-cost carrier Flair reported a whopping 62% decline.

Travel agents in Canada said there’s been a significant downturn in clients wanting to visit the U.S. overall, and Las Vegas in particular.

READ AP'S STORY

Las Vegas tourism is down. Some blame Trump’s tariffs and immigration crackdown

Digital Ready video: International tourism is down across the US and Las Vegas is feeling the hit

CONSIDER THESE REPORTING THREADS AND SOURCES

— Talk to your local chamber of commerce or tourism association and ask about tourism numbers for this year compared to last year. Ask about projected numbers and how the latest data compares. Local airports will also have data on passenger numbers.

— Find businesses or organizations that rely on tourism. Have they noticed an increase or decrease in international visitors in the last year? If there was a drop, did they experience a post-pandemic spike that might help explain the downturn?

— Some businesses, like hotels, casinos and resorts, might have a better sense of where their visitors are from and can provide that info. Also consider speaking to service industry unions in your area.

— Many cities have a tax on restaurants and hotels. How might shifts in tourism impact your local budget?

— Some Canadians like to spend winters in the warmer climates of the United States. If your community typically gets a lot of Canadian snowbirds, have those numbers shifted in the last year? Have there been any changes in reservations for the upcoming colder months from Canada? If you live in an area with condos, retirement communities or housing that is often seasonal, ask management and ownership if they've noticed changes.

— If you leave in an area with international tourism, find visitors and talk to them about their experience. Have they visited in the past? Have they noticed any changes in cost or the number of tourists? Do they follow U.S. politics? Did they have any concerns about tariffs or immigration policies on their trip or while planning their trip? Do they visit regularly? Do they plan to return in the future?

— The National Trade and Tourism office is a good resource for data.

— Contact industry groups like World Travel & Tourism Council and the auto club AAA that may be able to provide a local or national take on travel and tourism numbers.

— Consider also contacting local immigration attorneys and economists for comment and observation around potential fears and pressures of mass deportation and travel and the impacts of tariffs.

Localize It is a resource produced regularly by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to the Local News Success team at localizeit@ap.org.

Reflected in a glass window, people walk across a pedestrian bridge along the Las Vegas Strip, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Shaw was watching TV with his wife when she got a notification on her phone: Alex Bregman had agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Shaw was Chicago's regular third baseman during his rookie season, so he wondered what the move meant for him.

“You're kind of looking at it like ‘Oh man, where am I going to play?’ And you get a little anxious about those things,” Shaw said Friday at the team's annual fan convention. "The team knows me good enough at this point to know I just want to be prepared when the season comes around.

“So of course I immediately have questions like ‘Am I going to go here? Am I going to go there?’”

The answer to many of those questions was yes.

Shaw is preparing for a super-utility role after Chicago finalized a $175 million, five-year contract with Bregman on Wednesday. In addition to backing up Bregman at third and Nico Hoerner at second, Shaw also is expected to play in the outfield.

There is always the possibility of a trade with Hoerner, who is going into the last year of a $35 million, three-year contract, or Shaw, a first-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft who turned 24 in November. But the Cubs sound as if they are inclined to hold on to their infield depth as an insurance policy for injuries.

“I don’t think we have enough guys yet,” manager Craig Counsell said with a chuckle. “If you think there’s too many, I don’t know what you’re looking at.”

Counsell said the team was “fortunate” last year in terms of injuries.

“We’re now protecting a lot against what can happen, but I think that’s an important part of building a roster and building a team,” he said.

Hoerner, 28, was a key performer last season as Chicago won 92 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He batted .297 with seven homers, 61 RBIs and 29 steals in a career-best 156 games. He also won his second Gold Glove.

Amid increased trade speculation in the wake of Bregman's deal, Hoerner said he loves the Cubs and attributed the rumors to his contract situation and playing in a big market.

“I think, above all, just remembering that it’s not a personal thing and that the team’s job is to always make the best possible roster that they have the ability to do for this year and for years to come,” he said. “And you look at the things that we’ve done this offseason, I think it’s pretty evident that’s their goal. And we’re in a really strong place.”

Dansby Swanson, Hoerner's double-play partner at shortstop, said the second baseman was irreplaceable.

“Nico means the world to me and to this team, just who he is as a person,” Swanson said. “He brings the same type of energy and competitive spirit that Alex does.”

Shaw was relatively inexperienced at third base going into last season, but he was named a Gold Glove finalist in October. Shaking off a slow start and a stint in the minors, he hit .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games with the Cubs.

Shaw was a shortstop growing up in Massachusetts, but he spent some time as an outfielder early in his collegiate career at the University of Maryland.

“I played outfield growing up a lot, so I look forward to running around out there,” he said. “Outfield's definitely fun. And the at-bat stuff, I think there's at-bats there, and obviously it's up to me as it's up to all the guys to earn their spots and to play well.”

Shaw also is looking forward to playing with Bregman, a two-time World Series champion with Houston.

“We had a great year last year. We had a lot of great pieces,” Shaw said, “and then you add Bregman and it's like, you look at this team up and down and we're in an amazing spot.”

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FILE - Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner hits a sacrifice fly ball during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sept. 30, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh, File)

FILE - Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw prepares to field the ball during the a baseball game, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)