Vegas Travelers Undeterred Despite Global Economic Turmoil, According to Covers Survey

Las Vegas's long-term outlook might not be as gloomy as some have speculated – at least, if Covers' latest survey is any indication.

We polled more than 3,000 North Americans who have been to Vegas at least once, and gauged their interest in returning at some point this year despite a global economic maelstrom that has sent markets into a spin cycle.

Here's a look at what respondents had to say:

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 9 in 10 who are planning to visit Las Vegas this year have no plans to significantly cut their overall spending
  
  
• Only 2 in 10 have no intention of returning to Vegas this year, while nearly half have either booked their trip or are planning to go sometime in 2025
  
  
• High-end dining and gambling/casinos are the most likely Vegas experiences to see lower spends among those looking to curb costs for their next visit
  
  
• More than 3 in 4 have never cancelled or postponed a Vegas vacation
  
  
• Nearly 2 in 5 believe Vegas is still one of the best travel value locations in the U.S.
  
  
• Canadian visitors to Vegas are far less likely to return in 2025, and are far more likely to spend less while they're there

Global economic turmoil not deterring Vegas travel

One thing about those who visit Vegas at least once: They're highly likely to return, or at least give it major consideration. 

Do you currently plan to visit Las Vegas in the next 12 months?

Only one in five respondents are a lock to miss out on a Vegas adventure over the next year, which speaks to the unending allure of the Nevada funscape.  

Nearly two in five participants are planning to go in 2025 or early 2026, with another 7.9% having already booked their trip. Another one in three don't have a trip planned at the moment, but are considering it – and it's not unreasonable to expect a good number of those pollsters to take the plunge, depending on their means.

This has to be seen as an encouraging sign for Vegas as a whole, with those most responsible for driving tourism business not scared away by the present global economic situation.

Have global economic news or tariff headlines made you more hesitant to travel in general?

Comparing these numbers to the previous question and subsequent results, it's clear that Vegas has a tourist pull that simply isn't matched elsewhere.

Nearly three in four people polled by Covers admit that the current state of global economics – largely influenced by Trump's tariff proposals – has negatively impacted their view on travel in general for the foreseeable future.

Vegas might not face as severe a long-term hit as what's being forecast, but other popular U.S. destinations might not be so fortunate if these numbers reflect the larger public sentiment.

Have you ever cancelled or postponed a trip to Vegas?

Don't expect to see many travelers with intentions on going to Vegas changing their plans.

More than half have never altered their Vegas trip, while fewer than one in four have actually cancelled or postponed a Vegas vacation. 

Covers Expert Analysis

"It's unclear whether we'll see more cancellations in light of recent global economic turmoil, but to this point, those who flock to Vegas tend to not alter their plans."

Marc Meltzer, Casino Writer

Vegas visitors not likely to curb spending significantly

It's one thing for previous Vegas visitors to consider a return in 2025 – it's another when the results suggest that spending habits aren't likely to change at all.

If you visit Vegas this year, how will your spending habits change?

This result is more than a little eye-opening amid widespread talk of belt tightening in light of skyrocketing prices for groceries and other necessities.  

This is likely largely due to the fact that it has never been more expensive to enjoy a Vegas vacation, and that spending up is just part of maximizing the experience. But the fact that only one in eight respondents have acknowledged that they'll be curbing their Vegas spend by a measurable amount is quite staggering against the backdrop of rising prices everywhere.

Perhaps even more surprising: There are nearly as many participants who still see a Vegas jaunt as a great value trip as there are people who believe the city has become too pricey.

Which of the following best describes your opinion of Las Vegas right now?

How you respond to this question likely depends heavily on how you shape your Vegas experience from a cost perspective.

For visitors who opt for a more standard Vegas experience, big-time price increases across the board in recent years (from lodging to food to entertainment) are as noticeable as they are unsettling.

On the flip side, those who know where to find the bargains and deals will undoubtedly have a more positive view of the cost of a Vegas trip, with most of those options still in play if you look hard enough.

Which Vegas experience are you most likely to cut back on due to price concerns?*

Those who do opt to curb spending during their next visit to Sin City have identified two areas where they're far more likely to save money – and restauranteurs and casino managers won't be happy to see their businesses at the top of the list.

High-end dining and gambling are two of the most attractive options in Vegas, but they're also among the costliest – so it's no surprise to see them on top. Shopping, hotel upgrades and bars/clubs are all comfortably in the next tier, with virtually identical support for curbing spending across all three should the need arise.

Only 5.6% of respondents have no plans to limit their Vegas spending.

Canadian visitors tell a different story

While American tourists have shown a keen interest in going back to Vegas – and spending similarly to previous visits – Canadian respondents who have been to Sin City are in less of a hurry to return. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the Canadians who took the survey:

• A scant 17% of Canadians who have been to Las Vegas before have either booked a future trip or are planning to return, compared with 50% of Americans
  
  
• 59% of Canadians say they're significantly more hesitant to travel in general, compared with just 27% of Americans. And only 11% say travel plans have been unaffected by the global financial turmoil, compared with 29% of U.S. respondents.
  
  
• 31% of Canadian survey participants say they plan on significantly cutting back their Vegas expenditure, while only 10% of Americans plan on doing the same. (This could also have to do with the withering value of the Canadian dollar vs. the U.S. buck.)
  
  
• A mere 17% of Canadian respondents consider Vegas to be one of the best value travel locales in the U.S., compared with 41% of Americans who feel that way.

Other survey results

Respondents gave us a couple of additional insights into their Vegas trip habits:

Which of the following best describes your typical Vegas lodging choice?

The majority of respondents opt for middle-of-the-road accommodations when in Vegas, and that's not surprising when you consider just how many of those options are available. Another 17% opt for AirBNB or alternative rentals, indicative of a growing nationwide rental trend.

High-end Strip resorts constitute just under 16% of our participants' choice of lodging, and will likely take the biggest hit of any of the options on this list. And you can expect those losses to become gains across every other lodging choice here.  

What is the most you would be willing to spend on a 3-day Vegas trip (per person)?

More than three in five survey participants would spend between $500 and $1,499 on a three-day trip to Vegas, with the split between $500-$999 and $1,000-$1,499 nearly identical.

Fewer than one in 10 are happy to shell out more than $2,000 in a single trip, and that number will be even lower if global economic instability continues for the long term.

Methodology

We surveyed 3,053 participants from the United States and Canada on April 8-9, 2025. Here's how the demographics break down:

Gender

Age

Location