Las Vegas isn’t just about bright lights and casino floors this year. During CES 2026, the city became a stage where South Asian leaders, founders, and civic partners showed up and showed strength, signaling that this community is now a key part of the region’s economic future.

A city in transition, a community stepping in

Sin City’s tourism-dependent economy has been sputtering, with recent data showing visitor numbers and tourism revenue down significantly compared with past years: Las Vegas saw up to a roughly 7-8% drop in overall visitors and continued declines in air traffic and hotel occupancy, part of an ongoing slump in 2025. This has contributed to tens of thousands of jobs being shed in leisure and hospitality and renewed urgency around diversifying the local economy beyond casino tourism. 

That’s the backdrop. But what it also means is that entrepreneurship and diversified economic engines matter more than ever. Vegas can’t just rely on tourism as it once did; it needs builders, creators, founders, and networks that can fuel sustainable growth.

South Asian organizations stepping up

Across multiple events in Las Vegas during CES, South Asian community organizations played a lead role in creating that very infrastructure. American South Asian Network (ASAN), the Las Vegas Indian Chamber of Commerce, the SriLankan American Chamber of Commerce, and local entrepreneurs like Harry Singh, Rita Vaswani and Deven Singh came together to create moments of connection, capital access, and visibility.

Those gatherings made it clear that this community isn’t just showing up for culture : it’s showing up for commerce, innovation, and long-term economic opportunity.

The Consul General at the center of a broader narrative

One of the week’s focal points was the visit of Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, the first Consul General of India in Los Angeles, whose jurisdiction spans Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. His presence amplified both the diplomatic and economic dimensions of the week. While the Consulate continues essential administrative services for the community, it is increasingly oriented toward facilitating business, commerce, and cross-border collaboration in a moment when India has become the world’s fourth-largest economy.

City and State Leaders Affirm the Role of Community and Entrepreneurship 

Mayor Shelley Berkley has long championed small business and entrepreneurship in the city. Reflecting on the role of the South Asian community locally, she said she “has loved working with South Asian entrepreneurs for more than 3 decades, who have been an integral part of the community in Las Vegas.” Her comments underscore the reality that founders from this community have been part of the city’s fabric for years : and that their role is set to grow as the economy diversifies. The Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, Starvos Anthony, has long been a proponent of of South Asian immigrant entrepreneurs in the community. Reuben D’Silva, a Nevada Assemblymember, has been a consistent advocate for small businesses and immigrant communities. “The South Asian community has taken a leadership role in entrepreneurship to support Nevada’s evolving economic landscape.”, D’silva added.

The South Asian Collective: early-stage builders on display

ASAN hosted a major gathering for early-stage and pre-seed startups during CES, specifically curated for founders looking to scale, connect, and fundraise. The event drew over a hundred investors and founders from all over the world, with six companies pitching to an engaged audience that included both local innovators and global startup teams. Held at a vibrant venue on Las Vegas Boulevard, the night mixed structured pitch time with relaxed networking, food, and drinks: signaling that community can marry both rigor and culture.

This wasn’t just social networking: it was signal, capital, and pipeline building at scale.

Kerala Pavilion at CES: spotlight on global innovation

Adding to the momentum, the Kerala IT Pavilion at CES, USA was inaugurated by Dr. Srinivasa, spotlighting Kerala’s growing global tech presence. The pavilion showcased some of the state’s most promising startups, highlighting world-class talent, innovation, and the promise of meaningful global collaborations ahead. This exhibit wasn’t a sideshow : it was a statement that regional innovation from India has a place on global stages. 

Why organizations like ASAN matter locally

There are roughly 20,000 South Asians in Las Vegas and Clark County, a community that’s growing in education, entrepreneurship, and capital formation. Organizations like ASAN : alongside long-standing chambers of commerce : provide not just events but repeatable infrastructure: ecosystem intelligence, investor access, mentorship channels, and cross-border networks. That matters especially in a region like Las Vegas, which is actively wrestling with economic headwinds and searching for new engines of growth. Whether it’s technology, startups, healthcare, or services beyond tourism, founders and entrepreneurs are becoming an increasingly vital economic force : and South Asian networks are quickly proving themselves as connective hubs for that transformation.

The bigger picture

CES 2026 in Las Vegas was about chips and AI, but the week actually became about community power, cross-border opportunity, and economic transition. South Asians didn’t just turn up. They organized, pitched, convened, and built : in a city that needs builders almost as much as it needs big shows. If tourism is a challenge for Las Vegas right now, then community-driven economic participation like this isn’t just compelling. It’s essential.