Hokkaido confirms it will ask national government to ease IR MICE requirements

The revised “Basic Stance on IR of Hokkaido Prefecture” has been released to the public, after earlier discussion at committee level in the assembly of that Japanese local authority. Main points in the updated document issued on Thursday (October 15) regarding Hokkaido’s position on an integrated resort (IR) with casino include that it should have facilities of scale appropriate to Japan’s most northerly main island, and that a possible site has yet to be identified. The summary states that the scale of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) facilities at a potential IR should be “scaled to Hokkaido’s strengths with flexible, multi-purpose usage”, reflecting anticipated demand. The latest stance document added that Hokkaido intends to ask the central government to ease standards for conference, exhibition and hotel facilities, taking account of its location outside Japan’s major metropolitan areas. A 2019 cabinet order issued before Japan’s first round of IR applications gave developers three options for MICE facilities: a conference hall accommodating at least 6,000 people, paired with 20,000 square metres (215,278 sq. feet) or above of exhibition space; a conference hall with capacity for 3,000 to 6,000 people, plus at least 60,000 square metres of exhibition space; or a conference hall accommodating 1,000 to 3,000 people, with an additional 120,000 square metres of exhibition space. The same cabinet order set the minimum combined floor area of hotel guest rooms at 100,000 square metres. Earlier this year GGRAsia canvassed experts about the next round of IR applications due from May 2027. Japanese scholar Toru Mihara mentioned – referring to the scope of MICE facilities envisaged by the national government in the first round of IR applications, that concluded in December 2023 – that constructing “fairly large-scale MICE and hotels and other facilities may not be justified in… rural areas”. So far only one Japanese casino resort – the JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.57-billion currently) MGM Osaka, undergoing construction for a 2030 opening – has been approved. Hokkaido’s latest publicly-released revised stance mentioned, referring to discussions in 2019, before the prefecture decided not to make a first-round application: “Hokkaido initially selected the Uenae district in Tomakomai City as its preferred site but postponed its application due to concerns over environmental considerations within the limited time frame.” Now the revised paper indicated that a candidate site had yet to be identified. Further work would include consultations with interested municipalities, identifying suitable land and dialogue with businesses, it added. The document establishes guidance for further consideration, rather than committing Hokkaido to an IR application to the national government. “Hokkaido will take a phased approach before deciding on an official application,” said the summary of the paper issued on Thursday. Aside from identifying a possible Hokkaido site for an IR, the “next steps and timeline” would include “calculating economic impact and refining business viability” of an IR, and “explaining concrete benefits and addiction countermeasures to residents”. The latter was a reference to protection of the public from harm associated with problem gambling. The revised paper noted: “Hokkaido will advance its… Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Plan… focusing on early consultation, improved medical collaboration, public awareness, and online gambling regulations.” Additionally, any Hokkaido IR would have to “aim for profitability across all non-casino facilities while maximising local procurement: jobs, ingredients, local services,” noted the updated stance. Earlier this month, Naomichi Suzuki, Hokkaido’s governor, said he would seek re-election in a poll due in April 2027, citing the unfinished consultations on IR matters as a factor. Some local business groups have urged him to press ahead with the IR idea as a firm policy.