Issue 149
July 21-27, 2003
Volume 3
page 2
 

International Business Still Down in Vegas

LAS VEGAS – The number of international visitors to southern Nevada dropped 30 percent in the year following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said.

A report released on July 16 estimated the number of foreign visitors to the Las Vegas area in 2002 at 2.78 million, down 11 percent from 2001.

More than 4 million foreign tourists visited southern Nevada in 2000, the report said. "International visitation to the United States is down to destinations across the board, and Las Vegas is no exception," convention authority spokesman Rob Powers said. "We've dealt with some unprecedented challenges in the international travel market over the past two years."

The convention authority report was based on information collected by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, which conducts in-flight surveys of international travelers on their way to America.

The Commerce Department estimated 41.8 million international visitors arrived in the United States in 2002, down 7 percent from 2001 and nearly 18 percent off the 2000 total of 50.9 million.

Las Vegas saw its biggest decline in tourists from Japan, a country that had been the city's top overseas market in 2000 with an estimated 511,000 visitors. In 2001, Japan Airlines suspended direct service between Tokyo and McCarran International Airport for almost five months after the terrorist attacks. That year, the total of Japanese visitors was 282,000.

An estimated 192,000 Japanese visited Las Vegas in 2002, and the number of

travelers from Australia, France and Germany was down more than 50 percent from 2000 levels. The United Kingdom sent 290,000 visitors to Las Vegas last year, 5.2 percent below its 2000 total.

The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries has estimated the number of international travelers arriving in the United States won't approach 2000 levels until at least 2006.

 

 

Casino May Pick Up Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls, NY, desperately hopes that the Seneca Niagara Casino, opened on New Year's Eve, will attract more tourists to what Major Irene Elia calls "a city decaying."

Since 1950, Niagara Falls has lost about 40% of its population and most of its manufacturing jobs. Two-thirds of the city's 55,000 residents subsist largely on welfare or Social Security. Even though about 8 million people visit the U.S. state park between Memorial Day and Labor Day, they only stay on the American side of the falls for an average of about four hours. Most visitors today prefer to stay on the more tourist-friendly Canada side.

Although no one believes gambling alone can save the town, everyone hopes it's a start. Paul Lamont, a local documentary filmmaker, sees the irony of modern-day efforts to attract visitors to the natural wonder: "We need a windowless void filled with slot machines to draw people to Niagara Falls?"

San Manuel Band To Rebuild California Casino - SAN BERNARDINO, CA - The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has plans to erect a new casino with a six-level parking garage at the edge of its reservation near Highland, California in San Bernardino County. Most of the tribe's existing casino would be demolished in phases to make way for the parking structure. The project is expected to be completed in 2006 and to be a $200-million stimulus to the local economy over the next two years.

The tribe's original casino plans, announced in April, had the surrounding community in an uproar over the expected increase in sound, traffic, glare, etc.

The final plan announced on July 16th is the one alternative of four that San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles and City Attorney James Penman said was best, but the plan still falls short of their request that the casino or garage be moved off reservation. "They will talk about the jobs it will create. I understand all of that," says Valles, "but the negative impact on the streets, neighbors and the surrounding community has to be mitigated. And I know that the tribal chairman has given his word to work on that, but I need to get down to
the dollars."

Gloria Estefan

Nero couldn't sing and Augustus couldn't dance, but when the Latin rhythms of Gloria Estefan take over The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, October 10-19 (dark October 13, 14 and 15), the entire Roman Empire is sure to shake.

Coinciding with the release of Estefan's first English language album in six years, "Unwrapped," the superstar recording artist will bring her unique blend of pop and Latin music to Las Vegas for seven shows entitled "Gloria Estefan Live & Unwrapped." Choreographed by renowned film and television director Kenny Ortega ("Dirty Dancing," "Chicago Hope," "Ally McBeal," among others), "Gloria Estefan Live & Unwrapped" will be an explosive multimedia experience mixing music, dance and costumes into an unforgettable concert experience.

Price: $175, $150, $127.50, $87.50

Price Note: May not include all taxes & fees.

Show Time: 8:00 p.m.

Reservations: Reservations Recommended

For more information please call: (702) 474-4000
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