US tourist city triumphs over Canada’s travel boycott as visitors return

The Impact of the Canadian Travel Boycott on U.S. Destinations

The Canadian travel boycott has had a significant impact on various U.S. tourist destinations, with some areas experiencing more severe consequences than others. Border communities and ski resorts have been particularly affected, suffering millions in lost revenue. However, one city that is far from the border has also felt the effects of this boycott: Las Vegas.

Las Vegas saw a notable decline in Canadian visitors throughout 2025, which led local tourism officials to take action. They traveled to Vancouver in an effort to attract tourists back to the city. After months of declining numbers, three Las Vegas resorts have recently reported an increase in Canadian visitors following the launch of a new marketing campaign.

Las Vegas Resorts Report Increase In Canadian Tourists

In late January 2026, Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of three Las Vegas resorts, announced the launch of the “At Par Program” on X (formerly Twitter). This initiative allows Canadian tourists staying at or visiting the Circa Resort and Casino, the D Las Vegas, and the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino to pay in Canadian dollars at par with the American dollar for selected hotel rooms, drinks, entertainment, and gaming offerings.

According to Casino.org, the campaign was successful, as the three resorts welcomed 15,000 visitors in the first month after the program’s launch. This represents a total of 2,700 hotel nights booked. However, the number of Canadian guests staying at these three resorts before the campaign took effect hasn’t been shared, making it difficult to compare the results accurately.

The success of the campaign has prompted Derek Stevens to plan additional events targeting Canadian tourists. On June 27, Canadian band Finger Eleven will perform a free concert at Fremont Street, while on April 24 and 25, British Columbia-based DJ Excision will perform at an event where Canadians can purchase tickets at par. These events may help attract more Canadians to Las Vegas, potentially offsetting the sharp decline in visitors experienced in 2025.

Las Vegas Saw A Drastic Decrease In Canadian Travelers In 2025

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Year-End Summary for 2025, Las Vegas welcomed 38,545,700 visitors in 2025, representing a 7.5% drop compared to 2024. Canadians, in particular, seem to have largely avoided the city. Data from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) shows a 5.9% decrease in travelers in 2025 compared to the previous year. Canadian airlines experienced steep declines, with Air Canada reporting a 36.9% decrease in travelers and Porter Airlines registering a 43.8% drop.

This prompted Las Vegas to launch several campaigns aimed at attracting more Canadian tourists. For instance, in September 2025, the city launched massive discounts and offers through its “Fabulous 5-Day Sale,” part of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” campaign. From September 22 to September 26, visitors could take advantage of discounts on popular attractions, including the Venetian gondola ride, the High Roller observation wheel, and The Strat’s Atomic Golf. However, the marketing campaign did not lead to a significant increase in Canadian tourists.

Experts Claim Resort Discounts Don’t Address The Core Problem

While Derek Stevens’ marketing campaign seems to be working at the moment, some tourism experts remain skeptical, claiming that discounts do not address the main reason why Canadians aren’t visiting Las Vegas. Christopher Whyte, a travel agent working at Freestone Travel outside Toronto, believes that costs are only a small part of the issue.

“These hotels are trying to address the problem with transactional tactics when, effectively, it is not fundamentally a transactional problem,” Christopher Whyte told Casino.org.

According to him, Canadians aren’t traveling to the U.S. because of negative feelings towards the country’s politics. A recent survey by Abacus Data with 1,850 participants corroborates this theory, as 33% of Canadians said they would think less of a family member or friend if they found out that individual had taken a trip to the U.S. in the last few months.

According to Abacus Data, one in four Canadians considered traveling to the U.S. but ultimately decided against it due to the Trump administration.

While Las Vegas appears to be making progress against the Canadian travel boycott, it remains to be seen whether this is a temporary anomaly or if the numbers will continue to rise over the coming months.