Sasebo seeks to revive Nagasaki integrated resort bid in Japan
The city’s business community is calling for a renewed integrated resort proposal after Japan rejected Nagasaki’s previous bid in 2023.
Japan.- Sasebo’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry is calling for a fresh attempt to bring an integrated resort (IR) with a casino to Nagasaki Prefecture. A previous proposal was rejected by Japan’s central government in 2023.
The business group has asked Sasebo’s mayor to support renewed efforts and plans to approach Huis Ten Bosch, the Netherlands-themed theme park that was part of the previous proposal. The chamber said an IR could help revitalise the local economy and create jobs.
Japan rejected Nagasaki’s previous plan over concerns about its financing structure and the track record of potential investors. The new initiative would seek to use the experience gained from that process to develop a revised proposal.
Huis Ten Bosch is owned by Hong Kong-based investment firm PAG, which acquired the theme park in 2022. The company had previously expressed interest in developing an IR on land next to the park.
Sasebo itself cannot submit an IR application directly, as Japanese rules reserve that role for prefectures and ordinance-designated cities. The local government could, however, work with Nagasaki Prefecture. Japan’s next IR application round is scheduled to run from May 2027 to November 5, 2027, with the government planning to approve up to three projects. So far, only Osaka’s IR has received approval.
