Taiwan’s new Transportation Minister Yeh Kuang Shih has thrown his support behind the idea of a special cross-strait gaming zone.
The proposal, suggested by US-based Weidner Resorts, a prospective developer of a resort casino on Taiwan’s Matsu archipelago, is centered on construction of a tourist hotel on the China coast near the city of Fuzhou to accommodate day-trip visitors crossing by ferry to the casino. The hotel would be in addition to the 2,000-room hotel Weidner wants to build at its planned resort on the island of Beigan.
Matsu lies about 16 kilometers from mainland China.
“Since the proposal involves the two sides, we also have to see what China’s attitude is toward the idea,” Mr Yeh said.
Weidner says Fuzhou officials are in favor of the plan.
Residents of Matsu approved casino gaming in a referendum last July, but measures required to formally legalize casinos and establish a regulatory framework still have to be approved by the government and passed by the Legislative Yuan, the national parliament. The government currently is considering amendments to a draft of that legislation, titled the Offshore Islands Development Act.
Mr Yeh said if all goes smoothly the first casino could be up and running by 2017.
A proposal also is circulating for the creation of a special resort district along the lines of a Las Vegas Strip in the sprawling Taipei suburb of New Taipei City. The idea is being advanced by businessman Terry Gou, head of the Hon Hai Group, and is reported to enjoy the tentative support of New Taipei Mayor Eric Li Luan Chu.
The mayor describes it as an “entertainment zone” that would differ from Matsu’s “casino zone” by combining restaurants, high-end retail, convention and meeting facilities and recreation attractions.
