Japan to make complex tourist facilities out of casino resorts

Casino resorts are set to be built in Japan for the next 2020 Olympics and the government wants them to provide many tourism services.

Japan.- The Japanese government is aiming to turn casino resort projects into full-on tourist facilities as they will be required to provide spaces like exhibition and conference halls under a proposal made by the authorities. With Tokyo Olympics coming next 2020, the country is developing its tourism offer and has prioritised legislation on casino regulations.

Next Thursday, a government council is set to plan out a framework for these integrated resorts after the nation’s Diet facilitated the process at the end of 2016.

Japan is set to build two to three resorts by 2020 or after, as a way to attract tourism to the country after the Summer Olympics are held in Tokyo that year. These businesses “will greatly benefit tourism, regional promotion and job creation,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday. He also believes it will help make Japan an international travel destination after the major sporting event.

Japan is planning out a new way to approach casino regulations as it will would be the first country to require gambling venues to be integrated to tourism complexes. Current proposal limits the size of casino sections and plans profits to cover management fees for connected facilities.

There are some objections around the casino projects, related to gambling addiction and other possible negative impacts those might have. But the Japanese government is aiming to move forward with the idea to turn casino resorts into growth engines to prevent the economy from shaking when the consumption tax increases are introduced in late 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics.