Yokohama IR Council discusses operator recruitment

The innovation council will decide the criteria to choose the operator to partner the project to develop an integrated resort.

Japan.- Yokohama city has formed an Innovation IR Council to discuss the criteria for operator recruitment for its bid in the race to develop one of the three integrated resorts that will be allowed in Japan.

The council is chaired by Mayor Fumiko Hayashi and consists of six members: governor Yuji Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture, the chairman of the Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chairman of the Association of Yokohama City Neighborhood Associations, chairman of the Prefectural Public Safety Commission, and the president of Yokohama City University.

During the meeting, Mayor Hayashi said: “An IR is not just a casino but a facility of international conference halls and entertainment facilities. We expect it to have an unprecedented impact on tourism and growth of the local economy.”

She highlighted the importance of an IR bid to promote the local economy and to boost the city’s finances.

Governor Yuji Kuroiwa added: “We will respect the judgment of the city and would like to cooperate fully. Security measures and addiction measures are important tasks for the prefecture and police, and I would like to work with the city to overcome the problems.”