Vegas Sees 4.3 Percent Increase In Sept. Visitors

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tourism officials say the number of visitors to Las Vegas increased 4.3 percent in September, marking the first year-over-year monthly increase since May 2008.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Tuesday that more than 3 million people visited Las Vegas during the month, compared with 2.9 million in September 2008.

Convention attendance was up 12.2 percent, to more than 401,000, even though there were 95 fewer conventions during the month.

The CVA said it saw the first year-over-year monthly increase in convention attendance since July 2008.

For the first nine months of 2009, visitor volume was down 4.7 percent.

The average daily hotel room rate in September was $91.18, down 19 percent from a year ago.