Las Vegas sheds gambling-mecca image

Report by Steve Jones

LAS VEGAS has finally shed its image as a gambling-only city as more families than ever head for the bright lights and giant hotels, Premier Holidays has said.

The city has replaced Los Angeles as the operator's top selling US destination after a 64% increase in visitor numbers in 2000 while the average length of stay as virtually doubled in the last two years to four and a half nights.

Premier long haul director Rob Haynes said said the success was down to the investment in hotels and facilities over the past five years.

"From being a destination mainly for gamblers Las Vegas has gone all out to attract ‘ordinary' holidaymakers,” said Haynes. "It has turned itself into what is now virtually a giant theme park with spectacular themed hotels. It has become a must see destination for all visitors to the western US.”

Los Angeles is second in the top ten followed by New York, Orlando, San Francisco, San Diego.

In Premier's best selling states, California has moved above Florida for the first time to take top spot with the sunshine state relegated to second spot.

Nevada retains its third place with New York, Arizona and Massachusetts unchanged in fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.