CES, the biggest tech show in the US held every year in Las Vegas, will be an online-only event for its next edition in 2021, organisers have announced.

The tech show drew over 171,000 people from all over the world to Las Vegas in 2020. The announcement that the conference will be digital-only will have a big impact on the Las Vegas tourism industry.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) says the decision to move the event online was made because of ongoing Covid-19 concerns.

“Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of Covid-19, it’s just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person,” CTA president and CEO Gary Shapiro said.

The CTA said it plans to return to an in-person CEA show in 2022.