Sasebo Mayor Norio Tomonaga has reiterated his intention to push forward with eight key projects, including bidding for an integrated resort, after taking up his position at the start of his fourth term.
Nagasaki is quickly emerging as one of the leading contenders to win a Japanese IR license alongside Osaka, Hokkaido and Wakayama.
Last month, Sasebo’s Huis Ten Bosch announced a basic agreement to sell 30 hectares of land with accommodation facilities if the bid for an IR is successful and it is anticipated there would be an increase of up to 2 million visitors annually.
The national government will soon draft the basic policies regarding the selection process with local municipalities to then select their respective partner operators via a public offering. After this they will submit their draft plans to the national government.
“I have been researching IRs for over 10 years and I want to win this battle for my area,” Tomonaga said.
The mayor has won four elections and now after many years of paving the road to IR in Sasebo, seems ready to proceed.