I was quoted in Hospitality Investor about overtourism in America.
While New York might be grappling with these issues, Michael O’Regan, a lecturer in tourism and events at Glasgow Caledonian University’s Glasgow School for Business and Society, said other US destinations avoid the problem through careful management.
He cited the example of Las Vegas, where the city’s 656,000 strong population welcomed 40.8 million visitors in 2023.
O’Regan said the city, which ended 2023 with 154,662 available beds, has been built with tourism in mind and its infrastructure can handle the numbers its conventions, casinos and other attractions generate.
He added the city also benefits from the US’s mobile workforce who frequently move to where the jobs are and which allows it to deal with the ebbs and flows of mass tourism.
However, O’Regan said: “I’m not saying Las Vegas is a utopia. In downtown Vegas there are concerns about poverty levels and other issues.”