Buoyed by the attractions of Las Vegas and
a rise in convention business, Nevada tourism produced another
record year in 2005 with nearly 51.6 million visitors, according to
the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Setting a record is
good news, of course, but its also notable that Nevada only managed
an increase in visitor arrivals of less than 1%, which is not the
best news for a state that considers tourism its top
industry.
In Las Vegas, which
accounts for 75% or more of the states tourism economy by some
measures, arrivals grew in the 3% to 4% range, but that gain was
offset by static numbers or declines elsewhere in the
state.
Nevada got a boost
from the meetings and convention trade, which sent 7 million
convention delegates to the state last year, a 5%
increase.
The convention
business continues to grow in importance. It has risen nearly 10%
over the past two years, accounting for 13.5% of visitors last
year, up from 13.1% in 2003.
A month-by-month
glance at the visitor totals confirms that Nevada tourism is --
like its chief attraction -- pretty much always on. The seasonal
peaks and valleys are pretty flat as these things go, except for a
slight drop-off between November and February.
And, of course,
gaming still rules. Gaming receipts rose 10.2% last year,
generating $11.6 billion in revenue, or nearly 30% of the states
$40 billion tourism industry, according to the
commission.
The Silver State
ended the year with a lodging inventory of 179,989 hotel and motel
rooms, a very modest rise of 0.2% over 2004.
Statewide
occupancy, driven by Las Vegas, rose 0.3 points and averaged 84.3%
in 2005. It was at or above 85% for seven months of the
year.