Yokohama confims IR in 2020 fiscal budget

The budget to promote the initiative remains the same despite the delayed schedule.

Japan.- Yokohama city plans to stick to its initial budget for promotion of its planned integrated resort (IR) development.

The prefecture delayed the IR bidding process in April because of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on travel.

It has confirmed that the original amount of JPY 400 million (US$3.7million) has been assigned in its 2020 fiscal budget.

Some questioned why the IR promotion budget had not been cut to use the money for Covid-19 response and recuperation of the local economy but Yokohama mayor Fumiko Hayashi said the prefecture was obliged to move forward with the timetable agreed by the national parliament.

He said: “IR is a national project. We have received congressional vote to promote the project. It is necessary to proceed with efforts.”