Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki met with Tomakomai City Mayor Hirofumi Iwakura on Monday, where he confirmed his preference to refrain from applying to develop one of Japan’s first integrated resorts.
With applications for one of the first three licenses due by April 2022, Suzuki instead told Hirofumi that Hokkaido would reconsider the project in seven years’ time, according to a report by Asahi Shimbun.
Iwakura, who was actively involved in Hokkaido’s initial IR project preparations, said afterwards he was “very disappointed.”
At the meeting, Suzuki gave his reasoning for postponing an IR bid, stating, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the business environment for IR operators. We cannot secure an examination period.”
On the other hand, given the potential issue of more IR licenses at least seven years after the current initial round, Suzuki emphasized, “My hope for an IR project remains unchanged. I would like to work toward an IR concept that would be unique to Hokkaido.”
Suzuki had initially withdrawn Hokkaido from Japan’s IR race in November 2019, citing environmental concerns, but business groups in Tomakomai City had been pushing for a change of heart throughout 2020.
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