The government of Aichi Prefectural in Japan has launched an RFI process for a “city of international tourism focused on MICE.”
According to Asia Gaming Brief, though the call does not explicitly mention an integrated resort, “it is clearly related to the local government’s deliberations” about whether to join the country’s great casino race.
In December 2016, Japanese lawmakers approved the concept of legal casinos in the country. Last month, they passed the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill, which formally approved the plan and laid out regulations. Three casino resort licenses will be up for bid; analysts theorize that two IRs will be located in large metro areas, and one may be in a regional location.
Aichi Prefecture could be considering a casino as part of the Chubu Centrair International Airport development project in Tokoname City, AGB reported. In a March 2018 report, a local exploratory committee stated that the area’s “industrial strength, unique location at the center of Japan and excellent transportation infrastructure” will boost the MICE business at the Aichi International Exhibition Center, scheduled to open in 2019.
The report continued, “We think that Aichi Prefecture should also consider the utilization of Japanese-style IRs aimed for by the country.”
In Hokkaido, Governor Harumi Takahashi, who is now up for reelection, spoke with leaders of Tomakomai’s business community about the city’s potential IR bid. According to local media, Takahashi is a strong proponent of a Tomakomai IR.
In Okinawa, the death of Governor Takeshi Onaga could change the landscape appreciably, as Onaga opposed IRs. He could be succeeded by another “All-Okinawa” candidate who opposes gaming or Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima, whose supports the development of an IR.
Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui is urging the national government to launch the new industry sooner rather than later; Osaka also wants to be in the running, and hopes to open a Yumeshima IR by 2024, just in time for the 2025 World Expo. If the government moves slowly in the bidding and selection process,” he said, “It will take them four or five years to select the locations.”
