Anyone who has been to Las Vegas realizes that there is world-class entertainment around every corner. The city itself was built for this type of thing, ultimately starting as a stopover in the desert for weary travelers as they crossed to California. The Mojave Desert is quite intimidating, and represented multiple days of travel in the past across a wasteland where there was little as far as water, food or shelter of any kind. Because of the stretch of land being so inhospitable, Las Vegas itself became a stopover, not because of much else except it's proximity. It represented roughly the half-way point on a typical trip across the desert, and the valley location provided more shelter than surrounding areas. Las Vegas itself struggled until it realized that if it were to offer all of the things that people cannot get elsewhere, they might not just stop over, but actually might travel to the city as a destination itself. Over time, people began to travel to Las Vegas from California and Arizona, to partake in activities like gambling and drinking, and even legal prostitution on the city outskirts. Las Vegas became a place where by offering what people were looking for, could be a draw to an area that few would otherwise visit. It defied all odds, and became an oasis in the desert.
As more and more money was injected into the local economy Las Vegas grew. More people moved to the area in search of opportunity as the tourism industry boomed. Ancillary businesses became popular, like the “adventure travel” industry which provided tours to national parks and protected spaces in the surrounding desert. Las Vegas represented the perfect starting place for these types of tours, ultimately offering a world-class airport and hotel rooms, and a half-day drive to any number of national parks. All of these places are protected from encroachment and development is not allowed near them, so the nearest city that has a large airport becomes the starting point. Las Vegas was the most logical choice due to its already being set up for tourists.
Now many of the companies that offer these adventure tours to parks outside of Las Vegas are beginning to offer tours inside of Las Vegas as well. These are typically walking tours of attractions that the city has to offer, generally being patronized by the customers of the adventure travel company who have booked a few extra days in the city outside of their national parks tours. These inner-city tours allow guests who have only limited amounts of time to experience the best that Las Vegas has to offer, but within an escorted and compact time frame. A perfect example are the popular “foodie” tours, which provide access and sampling at multiple restaurants within sections of the city, each of which would require a reservation and hundreds of dollars per person to enjoy any other time. Patrons can experience multiple restaurants ambiance and sample the signature dishes, all within a few hours on an afternoon. For those with limited time or budget in Las Vegas, this is the way to go.
Martin Wynn
Priya
