Japan’s Aichi prefecture has pushed back deadlines in its request-for-proposal (RFP) process for a potential integrated resort (IR) with casino at Chubu Centrair International Airport Island (pictured). The local authorities said they had received requests from prospective participants for more time to assess the project’s viability.
The prefectural government announced on Wednesday a revision to the schedule for its IR district development process. The changes include extending the deadline for submission of participation statements to September 30, from the previous July 31 date.
The competitive dialogue phase with interested parties will now run until next winter, rather than ending in September this year, while the deadline for submission of final proposals has been postponed from autumn this year to around the winter period.
According to the prefectural authorities, no participation statements had been received as of June 17.
The local government said multiple companies had approached the prefecture seeking additional time to examine the project’s business feasibility and formulate development plans before deciding whether to participate.
The schedule adjustment comes less than three months after Aichi formally launched the RFP process on April 1, seeking a private-sector partner for a proposed IR development. The proposed site is adjacent to Chubu Centrair International Airport and the Aichi Sky Expo convention facility.
As reported by GGRAsia in April, the RFP marked Aichi’s first formal step towards joining Japan’s second round of IR licensing.
The next IR application window set by the national government – open to prefectures and so-called ordinance-level cities – is between May 6, 2027 and November 5, 2027. It allows local governments and their chosen private-sector partners to compete for up to two remaining casino resort licences.
Japan’s only approved casino project is the JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.42-billion currently) MGM Osaka. It involves Osaka city and prefecture, and their commercial partners MGM Resorts International, Japan’s Orix Corp, and other local companies, and is due to be completed by the end of 2030.
