The End of Elon Musk...?

Think Tesla's done? Think again. Tech legend Jeff Brown - who called Tesla before its 2,150% surge - says a hidden $25 trillion AI breakthrough could 10X those gains. The media's missing it, but you don't have to.

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

TY ONEIL and CHRISTOPHER WEBER
August 18, 2025

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad, and 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 time in 2024. There were 13% fewer international travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Mayor Shelley Berkley said tourism from Canada -- Nevada's largest international market -- has dried up from a torrent "to a drip." Same with Mexico.

"We have a number of very high rollers that come in from Mexico that aren't so keen on coming in right now. And that seems to be the prevailing attitude internationally," Berkley told reporters earlier this month.

Ted Pappageorge, head of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, called it the "Trump slump." He said visits from Southern California, home to a large Latino population, were also drying up because people are afraid of the administration's immigration crackdown.

"If you if you tell the rest of the world they're not welcome, then they won't come," Pappageorge said.

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 the same time a year ago, 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. Wendy Hart, who books trips from Windsor, Ontario, said the reason was "politics, for sure." She speculated that it was a point of "national pride" that people were staying away from the U.S. after President Donald Trump said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state.

"The tariffs are a big thing too. They seem to be contributing to the rising cost of everything," Hart said.

At downtown's Circa Resort and Casino, international visits have dipped, especially from Canada and Japan, according to owner and CEO Derek Stevens. But the downturn comes after a post-COVID spike, Stevens said. And while hotel room bookings are slack, gaming numbers, especially for sports betting, are still strong, he said.

"It's not as if the sky is falling," he said. Wealthier visitors are still coming, he said, and Circa has introduced cheaper package deals to lure those with less money to spend.

"There have been many stories written about how the 'end is near' in Vegas," he said. "But Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting."

On AAA's annual top ten list of top Labor Day destinations, Las Vegas slipped this year to the last spot, from number six in 2024. Seattle and Orlando, Florida -- home to Disneyworld -- hold steady in the top two spots, with New York City moving up to third for 2025.

Reports of declining tourism were news to Alison Ferry, who arrived from Donegal, Ireland, to find big crowds at casinos and the Vegas Strip.

"It's very busy. It has been busy everywhere that we've gone. And really, really hot," Ferry said. She added that she doesn't pay much attention to U.S. politics.

Just off the strip, there's been no slowdown at the Pinball Museum, which showcases games from the 1930s through today. Manager Jim Arnold said the two-decade-old attraction is recession-proof because it's one of the few places to offer free parking and free admission.

"We've decided that our plan is just to ignore inflation and pretend it doesn't exist," Arnold said. "So you still take a quarter out of your pocket and put it in a game, and you don't pay a resort fee or a cancelation fee or any of that jazz."

But Arnold said he's not surprised that overall tourism might be slowing because of skyrocketing prices at high-end restaurants and resorts, which "squeezes out the low end tourist."

The mayor said the rising cost of food, hotel rooms and attractions also keeps visitors away.

"People are feeling that they're getting nickeled and dimed, and they're not getting value for their dollar," Berkley said. She called on business owners to "see if we can't make it more affordable" for tourists.

"And that's all we want. We want them to come and have good time, spend their money, go home," the mayor said. "Then come back in six months."

___

Weber reported from Los Angeles.

Continue Reading...

Popular

California crew arrested for hundreds of Home Depot thefts worth $10M, police say

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities say they uncovered a criminal ring that stole $10 million in merchandise from Home Depot over several years, including 600 thefts this year alone, which the company calls the largest organized retail theft in its history.

IRS Reportedly Confirms $1,390 Stimulus Checks For Eligible Americans, Rumors of $2,000 August Payout Debunked — Plans Late Summer Rollout (UPDATED)

Millions of Americans may be eligible for a $1,390 stimulus check by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, as part of a plan aiming to provide financial relief to low and middle-income households.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Futurist Eric Fry say Amazon, Tesla and Nvidia are all on the verge of major disruption. To help protect anyone with money invested in them, he's sharing three exciting stocks to replace them with. He gives away the names and tickers completely free in his brand-new "Sell This, Buy That" broadcast.

Vance Predicts Numerous Indictments Following Trump's Treason Accusations Against Obama

In the wake of President Trump's allegations of treason against former President Barack Obama, Vice President Vance has predicted a wave of indictments.

Jensen Huang Hints At A 'New Brain' And A Monday Reveal: What's Nvidia Got In Store For This Robot?

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang teased a robotics announcement framed as giving robots a "new brain," with details expected Aug. 25 after the company wrapped up a week celebrating 2 million developers and showcasing AI-powered robotics innovations.

Buffett, Gates and Bezos Dumping Stocks - Ad

The world's wealthiest individuals are making huge moves with their money. Warren Buffett just liquidated billions of shares. Bill Gates sold 500,000 shares of Microsoft. Jeff Bezos filed to sell Amazon shares worth $4.8 billion. What is going on? One multi-millionaire believes they are preparing for a catastrophic event. But not a crash, bank run, or recession. It's something we haven't see in America for more than a century.

XRP Slips Below $3 But It Will Outperform ETH From Here, Trader Touts

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is expected to outperform Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) in the upcoming months, according to market commentators bullish on the token’s futur

Sunrun (RUN) Stock Soars As Wells Fargo Nearly Doubles Price Target

Sunrun shares are surging Friday afternoon. Wells Fargo analyst Michael Blum reiterated an Overweight rating on Sunrun.

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential - Ad

VCs back startups for outsized gains. Regular investors wait. But rule changes fixed that. Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 people averaged a $2,370 stake. Today? It's worth $1M+, up 89,900%. No wonder 10K+ people and the VCs behind Uber and eBay took the chance on Pacaso's $1.3T market disruption.

Cuban Has Resisted Presidential Run, but Says a Trump Third-Term Bid Could Draw Him Into the Race

Mark Cuban has resisted calls to run for president, but recently said that any effort by President Trump to seek a third term could drawn him into the race.

Cathie Wood's Thursday Bet: ARK Just Bought $31 Million Worth Of Falling Deere Stock, Also Loads Up On Block, Robinhood Shares

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, made significant trades on Thursday — focusing on Deere & Co. (NYSE:DE), Block Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) and Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:

Will Your Savings Survive the August 31st Debt Ceiling Crisis? - Ad

On Aug 31, the U.S. runs out of "extraordinary measures" to avoid default. Insiders are moving into crisis-proof assets-while everyday Americans risk losing big. The FREE Mar-A-Lago Accord reveals where they're hiding wealth, how the Fed's response could crush the dollar, and 3 urgent moves to make now.

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade - Ad

Elon Musk's new device is being called a "game-changer"-and even the White House is using this tech. Jeff Brown says it could launch Musk's next trillion-dollar company and make early investors rich. You can claim a stake now for as little as $500.

Tariffs, Producer Prices, And Small-Cap ETFs: A Pressure Test For Margins

PPI surges in July due to Trump's tariffs, impacting small caps more than large caps. Consider SPY, IJS, RZV and sector hedges like XLE for investing.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after October 23rd, it may be too late.

Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre wrote a memoir. Months after her death, it's coming out

NEW YORK (AP) — A posthumous and “unsparing” memoir by one of most prominent accusers, will be published this fall, publishing house Alfred A. Knopf said Sunday.

DOE Unveils Fresh $1 Billion Funding To Boost US Critical Minerals

The DOE will provide nearly $1 billion in funding to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals, following Trump's executive order.

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14179, a brief "AI Wealth Window" is opening now. Genius investor James Altucher has released 3 AI wealth-building strategies to take advantage of Trump's genius Executive Order 14179. James believes you could see $10,000 grow to $1 MILLION or more over the next few years.

Hijacked satellites and orbiting space weapons: In the 21st century, space is the new battlefield

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia held its this year, hackers backing the Kremlin hijacked an orbiting satellite that provides television service to Ukraine.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as October 23rd.

Intel Stock Is Trading Higher Tuesday: What's Going On?

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) shares are trading higher Tuesday after CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with President Donald Trump in the White House on Monday.

The US plans to build a $750M fly factory in Texas to stop a flesh-eating cattle parasite

The U.S. plans to build a $750 million factory in southern Texas to breed billions of sterile flies, ramping up its efforts to keep flesh-eating maggots in Mexico from crossing the border and damaging the American cattle industry.

Warren Buffett Issues Cryptic Warning on U.S. Dollar - Ad

The world's wealthiest individuals are making huge moves with their money. Warren Buffett just liquidated billions of shares. Bill Gates sold 500,000 shares of Microsoft. Jeff Bezos filed to sell Amazon shares worth $4.8 billion. What is going on? One multi-millionaire believes they are preparing for a catastrophic event. But not a crash, bank run, or recession. It's something we haven't see in America for more than a century.

Intel Deal Splits Experts, Beijing Pressures Alibaba And ByteDance On Nvidia, Zuckerberg Reshuffles AI Again —Tech This Week

The past week has been a rollercoaster ride in the tech world. From President Donald Trump's controversial stake in Intel Corporation to Beijing's backlash against Nvidia Corporation and Mark Zuckerberg's AI restructuring at Meta Platforms, the tech industry has been buzzing with activity. Let's dive into the details.

Walmart Stock Tumbles: CEO Warns Tariffs Are Raising Costs

Walmart CEO says the retailer is feeling the effects of Trump's tariffs on its bottom-line. 

The End of Elon Musk...? - Ad

Think Tesla's done? Think again. Tech legend Jeff Brown - who called Tesla before its 2,150% surge - says a hidden $25 trillion AI breakthrough could 10X those gains. The media's missing it, but you don't have to.

Peter Thiel-Backed Bullish Shoots Up 11% After-Hours Following Blockbuster IPO

Shares of cryptocurrency exchange Bullish soared over 11% in Wednesday's after-hours trading following the company's successful Wall Street debut.

New York AG Letitia James Continues Trump Fraud Case Appeal Amid DOJ Scrutiny

New York Attorney General Letitia James is persisting with an appeal in a business fraud case against President Trump and his company.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Futurist Eric Fry say Amazon, Tesla and Nvidia are all on the verge of major disruption. To help protect anyone with money invested in them, he's sharing three exciting stocks to replace them with. He gives away the names and tickers completely free in his brand-new "Sell This, Buy That" broadcast.

BioXcel Therapeutics (BTAI) Stock Is Extremely Volatile Today: What's Going On?

Shares of BioXcel Therapeutics are trading sharply lower Tuesday morning. The company announced its financial results for Q2.

Buffett, Gates and Bezos Dumping Stocks - Ad

The world's wealthiest individuals are making huge moves with their money. Warren Buffett just liquidated billions of shares. Bill Gates sold 500,000 shares of Microsoft. Jeff Bezos filed to sell Amazon shares worth $4.8 billion. What is going on? One multi-millionaire believes they are preparing for a catastrophic event. But not a crash, bank run, or recession. It's something we haven't see in America for more than a century.

Walmart recalls frozen shrimp over potential radioactive contamination

Walmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states because federal health officials say it could have potential radioactive contamination.

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan hold summit in Kabul to boost cooperation

ISLAMABAD (AP) — are meeting on Wednesday in Kabul for a trilateral summit aimed at boosting political, regional and economic cooperation, officials said.

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential - Ad

VCs back startups for outsized gains. Regular investors wait. But rule changes fixed that. Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 people averaged a $2,370 stake. Today? It's worth $1M+, up 89,900%. No wonder 10K+ people and the VCs behind Uber and eBay took the chance on Pacaso's $1.3T market disruption.

Ukraine's $150 Billion Commitment To Buy US Weapons Could Hand RTX, Lockheed And Northrop Billions

Ukraine is reportedly promising to buy $100 billion worth of American weapons, financed by Europe, in return for a security guarantee by the U.S.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright smartmoneytrading.net
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service