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Edited by Samiksha at 26-12-2023 01:04 PM
Japan's northernmost Hokkaido Prefecture is considering the establishment of an Integrated Resort (IR) with a casino to boost tourism and local economic development. The Hokkaido Tourism Bureau is exploring the concept of a "green IR" to attract more tourists. They are currently setting a target of surpassing 10.4 million annual visitors, up from the pre-COVID-19 8.36 million visitors in 2019.
Due to environmental concerns, the Governor of Hokkaido rejected a proposal to open a casino resort back in 2019. To revitalize the region, the economically struggling industrial port of Tomakomai in Hokkaido has shown interest in developing an integrated port. The city's December 2022 draft public policy plan called for the formulation of a casino resort strategy.
Japanese scholar Toru Mihara suggests that international investors might still be interested in regional markets like Hokkaido. Currently, Osaka is the only location in Japan authorized for a casino resort project. The project involves Las Vegas Sands International Hotel Group and Japan Orix Corporation and signed an implementation agreement with the Osaka Prefecture government in September. However, the Osaka IR has been postponed to ""Autumn 2030,"" with an initial investment cost of 1.27 trillion yen, approximately $12.7 billion USD. |
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Post time 8-11-2023 12:31:20
