Nagasaki IR Fails to Gain Approval for Development Plan

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided not to approve the development plan for the Kyushu-Nagasaki Integrated Resort (IR) area.

The development plan for the Kyushu-Nagasaki specific complex tourists facility zone was applied for in April 2022 by the prefecture of Nagasaki and KYUSHU Resorts Japan. The application had undergone review by a committee composed of external experts, but it has been determined that the plan does not conform to the required standards, and it is appropriate not to grant approval in accordance with the basic policy.

KYUSHU Resorts Japan had planned to include Casino Austria International’s Japanese subsidiary, Casino Austria International Japan, as a core shareholder, and to accept a 20% investment from domestic companies in Kyushu and other parts of Japan.

The project was planned to be adjacent to Huis Ten Bosch and to open the integrated resort, including a casino, by the fiscal year 2027 with projections of 6.73 million visitors, revenues of about 271.6 billion yen, and a net profit of about 30.2 billion yen in the fifth year of operation in fiscal year 2031. The total amount of funding to be procured was estimated at about 438.3 billion yen, of which approximately 263 billion yen was planned to be financed from financial institutions.

The IR facility would have included an international convention center, exhibition facilities, a passenger terminal, multiple lodging facilities with a total of 2,522 rooms, a medical mall, a shopping mall, and more, spanning a total area of 642,100 square meters. The casino area itself was expected to be 46,480 square meters.