Japan: three companies interested in developing an IR in Kitakyushu

Local authorities sent a 14-item questionnaire to operators covering topics such as development plans, incomes and expenditures

Japan.- Mayor of Kitakyushu hold a press conference last Thursday and clarified lot of issues of the IR in the city. Kenji Kitahashi confirmed that three companies are interested in developing a casino resort and they already submitted business concepts.

Local authorities started working last month coordinating a team of public officials to research the topic of integrated resorts or “IRs” – as large-scale casino complexes with hotels, meeting space, shops and entertainment venues are known in that country. 

They sent a 14-item questionnaire to operators covering topics such as development plans, incomes and expenditures with returns expected by 10 January. After the the mayor receive the answers, he will hold a city council session in January hoping to finalize its policy by the end of March.

“Citizens and industries have differing opinions. Our neutral position on an IR bid hasn’t changed, but we will listen carefully to operators who are excited to make proposals,” Mayor Kitahashi said.

Although it is known that one of the interested companies is from Hong Kong, the city’s government has not made public the names of the organisations.

The government of Japan announced that the local authorities that want to present proposals for Integrated Resorts (IR) licenses can do it from January 4 through July 30, 2021.