A lobby group for economic development on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture (pictured), has given its backing to the idea of an integrated resort (IR) with casino being established there to boost tourism and opportunities for local business.
The Hokkaido Economic Federation mentioned its support for an IR during a Thursday press conference after a ceremony to mark the body’s 50th anniversary.
Suguru Kanazawa, the new mayor of the Japanese city of Tomakomai, in Hokkaido prefecture, had mentioned in February the local authorities would continue preparatory work tied to their long-expressed aim of building there an IR.
In 2019, Hokkaido dropped out of contention prior to Japan’s first round of local-government applications for the right to have an IR.
On Thursday, Yutaka Fujii, chairperson of the Hokkaido Economic Federation, and also chairperson of Hokkaido Electric Power Co Inc, was cited by local media as saying: “Having an IR is an effective way to improve the value of Hokkaido tourism and a great opportunity for the Hokkaido business community.”
“The Hokkaido Economic Federation is going to have study meetings with other economic groups in Hokkaido,” added Mr Fuji.
According to the information reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent, last month the federation sent a document to the national government regarding things the latter could include in the 2026 national budget.
The federation made reference to Japan’s long-standing policy goal known as “Realisation of Tourism-Oriented Country”.
The Hokkaido Economic Federation’s seven-chapter document sent to the national authorities included one on “Realisation of an IR in Hokkiaido” directed to the Japan Tourism Agency, a body under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
That agency coordinated a first round of local-government applications for IR business in Japan, which concluded in 2023. It resulted in two submissions and one successful applicant, namely Osaka metropolis via its prefecture and city governments, and the JPY1.27-trillion (US$8.84-billion currently) MGM Osaka project, due to open in 2030.
As per a report last month in the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, Japan’s national government has a policy aim of starting this year a fresh process round for IRs with casinos, with the hope of approving “by December 2027” as many as two new locations to supplement the under-development MGM Osaka scheme.
In November 2019, Naomichi Suzuki, governor of Hokkaido, had said that – while he wished to try for an IR in the “long run” – he had chosen not to make an application in the first round. He remains in post, having been reelected in 2023.
