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Asian Population Grows, Transforms Las Vegas

Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza
Jude Joffe-Block

The Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza is the first thing that might come to mind when thinking about the city's Asian population but the impact of the immigration population can be found around the Las Vegas Valley.

When the mega resort project Resorts World fully opens in 2018, it will be the first hotel and casino property on the Strip that is specifically marketed toward Asian tourists.

Indicative of the importance of Asian tourists to maintaining Las Vegas as a No. 1 tourist destination in the world, it’s not just the Strip that is reaping the benefits of having a large Asian population.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada’s Asian population has more than doubled in size over the last 15 years - the only state to have such an increase. And in recent years, Asians overtook Hispanics as Nevada’s fastest growing immigrant group – almost doubling that of immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Sales receipts from Asian-owned businesses in the county have also skyrocketed, and could exceed $5 billion for the next round of census figures.

Robert Lang, the director of Brookings Mountain West, told KNPR’s State of Nevada that one of the biggest draws for Asian immigrants has been health care workers from the Philippines.

Lang also said that Nevada went looking for those skilled workers from Asian and has benefitted greatly, especially because of the state’s nursing shortage.

“We would be worse off if we didn’t have so many Filipino nurses,” Lang said.

He said being close to Southern California, which also has a large Asian population, has helped bring people here and that connection will help both Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

“The great thing about a connection to Asia is that in the 21 st Century the largest sphere in the world’s economy will be in Asia,” Lang added.

Las Vegas also shares a connection through gaming and has brought highly skilled workers here to fill jobs in that sector.

Terry Wong with the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce said Asian immigrants have become part of the city’s bedrock and that can be seen by the growth in businesses along the Spring Mountain Road corridor.

“When the population grows the consumerism obviously grows as well and Asian-owned business particularly,” Wong said.

He pointed out that Las Vegas Chinatown is really not ‘Chinatown,’ but really more of an ‘Asiantown’ that includes businesses owned by people from around Asia, which he sees as one of the biggest strengths.

“When you have that type of mixture, it’s kind of unique to Las Vegas, there is more interaction,” Wong said. He added that everyone in the Asian community is working for their mutual benefit.

Lang also said that Las Vegas is too greedy to not be open to everyone.

“It’s an immigrant city – writ large,” Lang said. He believes Las Vegas is open because it wants people to enjoy the city.

 

Terry Wong, president, Asian Chamber of Commerce

Robert Lang, director, Brookings Mountain West

Ryan Jang, owner, Moko Tapas Bar

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Prior to taking on the role of Broadcast Operations Manager in January 2021, Rachel was the senior producer of KNPR's State of Nevada program for 6 years. She helped compile newscasts and provided coverage for and about the people of Southern Nevada, as well as major events such as the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas strip, protests of racial injustice, elections and more. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree of journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.