Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will be showcasing some of their new world class entertainment and getting down to business at the Routes 18th Development Forum taking place this weekend.

The 18th World Route Development Forum, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi  this weekend, is the largest global event of its kind, determining the future of air services.

Leaders from the aviation industry, including airports, airlines and destinations have gathered in the UAE capital to discuss and define the future of aviation.

Las Vegas, which is looking to tap into new international markets in coming months will talking about some of its new offerings to leaders at the Abu Dhabi forum in addition to tacking some of the key challenges the travel and tourism industry is facing.

Las Vegas currently welcomes 173 weekly flights from 19 international cities.

In recent months Las Vegas has invested over $22 billion in a variety of new world class entertainment, culinary and shopping additions, than 25,000 new hotel rooms bringing the total to 151,000.

One of its latest innovations is the new international terminal at McCarran International Airport, meaning Las Vegas is more accessible and more welcoming to international visitors.

McCarran International Airport saw an uptick in passengers in last month, according to the latest passenger figures which show 3.64 million people passed through the airport in August, an increase of 0.3 percent from 3.63 million in August 2011.

Year-to-date through August, 28 million people have travelled through the airport this year, up 1.4 percent from 27.6 million in 2011.

“Las Vegas is more vibrant than ever and continues to reinvent itself as an international tourism destination,” explains Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Chair of the U.S. Travel Association.

Despite having more hotel rooms to fill than any other US destination, Las Vegas still achieves room occupancy averages above 80 percent annually.

With two years of increases in visitation and average daily room rate, Las Vegas has good reason for continued optimism.

“We are particularly enthusiastic about the vast, untapped potential of international travel to Las Vegas.” said Ralenkotter. “International travel is a key growth market for Las Vegas tourism, which is why we have set a long-term goal of 30 percent international visitation in the next decade.”

Las Vegas has welcomed more international visitors in the last couple years than ever before and predicts the trend will continue. Currently, 15-18 percent of annual travelers to Las Vegas are international, which equates to about 6.5 million visitors generating 27 percent of the destination’s total annual tourism revenue.

“With endless entertainment, culinary and shopping options along with favorable currency exchange rates and great values, Las Vegas has never been a more attractive travel proposition for international tourists,” said Ralenkotter. “Additionally, we continue to create more accessibility for the international traveler by securing more non-stop flights from key countries.”

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority was named North America’s Leading Destination by the World Travel Awards earlier this year.