After a tough slog for its chief breadwinner, Las Vegas, the last couple of years, Nevada tourism revenue is once again glowing neon-bright thanks to an uptick in Vegas tourism traffic.
Trumpeting the good news, and showering attention on destinations ranging from Reno to more-rural locales, the Nevada Governor’s Conference on Tourism showcased Silver State success Nov. 29-30 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.
“Nevada is poised for a new era of development and growth, and more than in gaming,” said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. “The miracle of Nevada is it offers sights you can’t see and things you can’t do anywhere else in the world.”
But besides the unique scenery and activity options, the state is on the rebound when it comes to tourism numbers.
“Visitor volume is up and hotels are being filled once more,” Sandoval said. “We can prove to the world that Nevada’s best days are yet to come.”
Recent tourism statistics back up the governor’s optimism.
According to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President & CEO Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas for the first time will break 39 million visitors in 2011.
“We’ve turned a corner and are back on solid footing,” he said, adding that the destination is continuing with the phenomenally successful “Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” campaign that has become somewhat of a rallying cry in American—if not worldwide—culture.
Highlighting the worldwide appeal, rosy numbers concerning China-Nevada trade were revealed by Gao Zhansheng, consul general of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco.
Gao said that in a relatively short time, trade between the state and China has increased 3,200 percent with a 53 percent increase in outbound tourism. By 2020, China will be the state’s top outbound market.
There also was discussion about the recent disbanding of the state’s Department of Cultural Affairs, which had its divisions, along with the Indian Commission and the Commision on Tourism, integrated into the new Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
In some major breaking news at the conference, representatives of Reno announced that the destination is teaming up with California to form the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, which will make a push for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
