Vegas tourism gifts gas cards in hopes of boosting travel

Drivers lined up at a 7-Eleven gas station in El Segundo, California, for over an hour on Thursday (May 7) hoping to get free gas, as Visit Las Vegas offered up to $100 at the pump to 100 people, along with gift cards, to encourage residents to visit the city this summer.

About half of Las Vegas's visitors arrive by car, with most driving in from Southern California and Arizona, making fuel costs a key concern for the tourism bureau as it promotes a summer season anchored by an eight-week fireworks celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary.

"Anything that's a travel barrier is something that we just keep an eye on. So we're getting ahead of it a little bit," said Molly Castano, vice president of public relations and communications for Visit Las Vegas.

The fireworks show runs for eight consecutive weeks starting June 6.

Robert Jackson of El Segundo was one of the motorists to receive a $100 fill-up. "This car is just so hard on gas that this would really help me," Jackson told Reuters. "This may last me four days."

-Jack Ferry, Elizabeth Mendez/Reuters